JERSEY SHORE — It is called a staple of Jersey Shore and this year’s Town Meeting has two big reasons to celebrate: the 200th anniversary of the borough and the 250th birthday of the United States.

“We will have a fireworks presentation that’s going to happen Saturday night and then we’re going to have an additional finale to celebrate the birthday of Jersey Shore,” Kelly Sweikhart, president of the Jersey Shore Town Meeting Committee, said.

For historical context, in a June 17, 1961 issue of the Grit, it discussed that at the “historic Tiadaghton Elm, on the west bank near the mouth of the Pine Creek, will be the scene once more this Fourth of July of a patriotic ceremony honoring the Fair Play Men of the 18th Century.”

The 1961 writer explained that “on July 4, 1776, history reliably reveals an assemblage of these men met near that site to declare their own independence from the British crown, the action being taken without knowledge that the Continental Congress was taking similar action in Philadelphia.”

In the 1961 article it said that an observance from the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution were on hand to lead the ceremony with “plans (calling) for Boy Scouts to present the colors, an opening prayer by a minister, a song on a patriotic theme by a singer from this vicinity” and a talk from a local newspaper writer.

Events at the Town Meeting have greatly expanded in the decades that followed.

Instead of Pine Creek, it will be at the Thompson Street Recreation Field next to the town pool and each of the nights will feature live music that will entertain event goers.

“The local bands that we have come in are amazing,” Sweikhart said.

The event began Saturday, June 27 with the Queens Tea Pageant and on June 28 Vespers at the Town Meeting Stage on Thompson Street.

For the rest of the week, a ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 5:45 p.m. with a performance by the Mark Berry Band on Monday, June 29.

On Tuesday June 30, Raising Kane will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. with the band Flashback playing on Wednesday, July 1 from 7 to 10 p.m.

On Thursday, July 2, the Grand Parade will begin at 6 p.m. with the Baby Sweethearts being named and the Jersey Shore High School Modern Band playing from 7 to 10 p.m.

“We do baby sweethearts where they’ll crown a little girl and crown a little boy as the sweethearts,” Sweikhart said.

According to her, the Parade Route is from Bastress Street to Allegheny Street to Broad Street and back to Thompson Street.

As for the parade, she expects it to be quite exciting.

“Well, our parade is very big. I still have people that are messaging me wanting to be in the parade,” Sweikhart said.

She was excited to see one float that will feature residents dressed as super heroes and she said that State Representative Joe Hamm will be on hand too.

On Friday, July 3, this will feature a popular performer who returns to the stage on Thompson Street. While this is a celebration of the independence of the United States from the Crown of England, the only “kingly” event will be singer Jeff Krick, Jr. in full Elvis Presley regalia and his full band.

According to Krick’s website, he was named the sixth most popular Elvis Tribute show in the world.

She said she was excited to have “an Elvis impersonator coming in again this year and he’s bringing his big band and he’s bringing in a following.”

‘There’s people traveling from the downtown Philadelphia area to come up and watch him perform,” she said.

Finally, on Saturday, July 4, there will be the Tiadaghton Elm Ceremony at 9 a.m., no matter the weather, along with the crowning of the Tiadaghton Queen at 6 p.m.

To put on such an herculean effort it has taken just a committee of over 10.

“We plan all year long and put a lot of hard work into it,” Sweikhart said. She and the volunteers “take care of fundraising and plan everything that happens that week.”

“There’s about 12 of us volunteers,” she said and then added with a chuckle. “Well it’s the same amount (setting up and tearing down). Some of us (are able) to rope in our husbands, our spouses to lend a hand where needed like if we need security husbands will volunteer to run security.”

She said that new vendors, EMTs and police will be on hand. But the event promises to be a festival that only a small town can throw.

“Jersey Shore really is a small town,” she said. “It is a town where everybody knows everybody.”

This is the reason the members of the Jersey Shore Town Meeting committee are excited to celebrate their place in history.

For more information, visit the Jersey Shore Town Meeting’s Facebook Page.