Celebrate the 4th of July like they do in the movies, with the bandstand and the parade and the watermelon!

The Memorial Villages are hosting the 21st Annual Villages Independence Festival. The Festival includes a program which focuses on family, neighbors and patriotism and is free to all attendees. The Festival begins with a parade at 9:00 a.m., from Memorial High School to the Memorial Drive Baptist Church grounds at 325 North Piney Point Road (the site of the Festival).  The parade is followed by games, food, entertainment and visiting until 1:00 p.m.

Metro operates a free shuttle from 8:15 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. between the Memorial High School field house and the Presbyterian Church's parking lot (Blalock side) and the Festival grounds.

Our Memorial-Spring Branch Rotary Club has been in charge of the watermelons for at least 12-15 years.  The watermelons are provided by the Festival Committee, and we cut them, and serve them to those who attend the Festival, which usually numbers well over 1000 people.  At the end, leftover watermelons are given away to be taken home. 

It is the single event of the year where our banner is displayed for the public to see, and is, next to the Health Fair, one of our biggest Community Service activities of the year.