Marshall area residents and visitors will have the opportunity to visit with a congressman or see how far they can spit watermelon seeds in city Independence Day activities.

Marshall's "Fourth on the Square" event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. downtown featuring a watermelon eating and seed spitting contest and other games along with outdoors showing of a feature movie. U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, is scheduled to address a group at Marshall Civic Center about noon today during a Republican Party July Fourth event.

The old-fashioned Fourth celebration downtown begins at 6:30 p.m. with the watermelon-eating contest. The winner is the person who eats the most slices in 90 seconds. There will be different categories of contestants.