ALDERSON — Red, white and blue will be the order of the day when this river community rolls out the welcome mat for its 48th annual Fourth of July celebration.

Slated for July 2-6, the event will begin with a fireman’s rodeo and will wind down with the Ducks on the Greenbrier-Rubby Ducky Race. The 2009 theme is Stars and Stripes Will Shine.

“It’s a small-town atmosphere and it brings people back to Alderson,” chairman Mark Ballard said. “We’ll have from 15,000 to 20,000 people.”

The grand parade and the fireworks are the major drawing cards for the festival, Ballard said.

The grand parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. on Independence Day. The fireworks will be an attraction on both Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Kelsey Still, daughter of Ray and Gina Still of Alderson, is the 2009 Miss Fireworks and will ride in the parade with her royal court. Still is a 2009 graduate of Greenbrier East High School and will be a freshman at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va., this fall.

Becoming a tradition at the celebration is Stuart’s Hot Dawg Eating Contest. The Saturday competition has a class for both adults and children 12 years of age and under.

According to Rhonda Carter, manager of the local restaurant, 500 hot dogs were cooked up last year with the winner, Matt O’Dell, downing 17 hot dogs in 12 minutes.

Entertainment will play a major role.

“We have everything from bluegrass to gospel,” said Donna Burns, a member of the entertainment committee.

To be showcased are Buddy Allen and the Cheat River Band, Heartbeat of Soul and the Half Bad Bluegrass Band.

There will be a square dance with music by Austin Bradley and the Tri-County Cutups, an old-fashioned gospel sing and a talent show.

Linda Loudermilk said the traditional open house and the Community Homecoming Dinner will be Friday evening. “It’s for everyone,” she said of the catered event.

The Alderson Fire Department and EMS will sponsor a luncheon July 4.

Via the Ducks on the Greenbrier-Rubby Ducky Race, one ticket holder will take home $5,000.

“Our rubby ducky tickets are going extremely well,” Ballard said. “We’re ahead of schedule.”

Karen Lobban, a stalwart on the Fourth of July celebration committee, is in charge of the ticket sales.

Whitewater canoe racing and other events on the Greenbrier River, a kids’ fishing tournament, a car show, the tug of war between the Greenbrier and Monroe boys and kids and a horseshoe tournament are just a sampling of other activities on tap.