Independence Day will be the date of the next "tea party" in downtown Wheeling.

Plans for the gathering - a follow-up to the April 15 "Ohio Valley Tax Day Tea Party" - have been set for 3-4:30 p.m. July 4 on the steps outside WesBanco Arena. The "Ohio Valley Independence Day Tea Party" will take place just prior to the Independence Day parade at 5 p.m. in the Friendly City.

Cherie Mezynski, who is among the local organizers of the national tea party effort, said between 2,000 and 2,200 people attended the April 15 event - seeking to collectively voice their opposition to excessive government spending and their anger with elected officials not responding to their concerns.

She expects as many as 4,000 will attend the July 4 tea party.

"The issues are still ongoing," Mezynski said. "Nothing has been resolved, but the silent majority is silent no more.

"People have asked, 'Where were you the past eight years?'" she added. "It's not that we were happy with how things were going in the country, but they had not reached the boiling point where we thought, 'Enough is enough.'"

She noted that everyone is invited to what she terms a "non-partisan event."

"We welcome everyone there, regardless of their political bent," Mezynski said. "We need to continue to build momentum."

She reported that since the April 15 event, the wethepeopleov.com Web site has received "50 to 75 e-mails" encouraging the group to continue its efforts.

"People have been contacting us to see what they can do to help," Mezynski said. "It's resonating with people. They see an out of control situation that could have an effect on their grandchildren, and they have asked for another one."

Local organizers hope to plan 10 tea party events between now and the 2010 general election, she noted.

The July 4 event will feature a salute to veterans, as well as guest speakers.

A nationwide tea party has been set for Sept. 12 in Washington, D.C.