July 4th festival also fundraiser for fire station

• By DARLENE DENSTORFF
• Ascension section editor
• Published: Jul 3, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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ST. AMANT — Plans are set for St. Amant Fire Department’s Rockin’ the River celebration Saturday.

Music, children’s games, food, a singing competition and fireworks are on tap for the daylong celebration at the Jimmy Babin Complex at the end of Bayou Terrace Road, Fire Chief James LeBlanc said.

Proceeds from the event will be used to build a new fire station for the Diversion Canal area.

“This is the only area in the parish that we have to dispatch a fire department from another parish because they are closer. We want to change that,” LeBlanc said.

Land for the new station was donated earlier this year and a firetruck has been donated for the new station.

“This is going to be a family celebration for our nation’s birthday,” LeBlanc said.

The department is combing two previous events into one, he said. Last year the department held a fall festival at the complex and a Fourth of July celebration in St. Amant.

Dozens of volunteers are lined up for Saturday’s festival.

“We always have great support from our firefighters, their families and the neighborhood and this event is no exception,” he said.

Work began in early June on the stage and preparing the grounds.

The gates open at 10 a.m.

The festival will feature a singing competition, Diversion Canal Idol Competition. Singers can compete for a $25 entry fee, LeBlanc said. Singers will be judged on vocal ability, vocal demonstration and performance. Peppermint Patti Karaoke will assist with the competition.

Contestants should arrive at noon to register and the contest starts at 1:15. The winner will receive $200.