[1] In 1976, after the first nine years of the event had been staged at Ogle Stadium and Delano Park, both located next to Decatur High School, the Spirit of America Festival, observed in and around the Fourth of July annually, moved to Point Mallard.

It was enabled by the construction of a small outdoor, amphitheater-like stage to accommodate the Festival's musical performances, civic awards ceremonies, and a beauty pageant.

In case of inclement weather, events are conducted instead in the basketball gymnasium of the T. C. Almon Recreation Center nearby on the Point Mallard campus.

Since Point Mallard is already an established tourist attraction for people within a roughly 100-mile radius of Decatur due to the Aquatic Center, attendance at Spirit of America is usually larger than one would expect for an otherwise ordinary local function.

President Ronald Reagan, then campaigning for reelection, spoke at the Festival on July 4, 1984, appearing before some 60,000 persons and considerable local and national media coverage.

Other activities include car and tractor shows and an arts and crafts display, along with a limited amount of live music; while usually well-attended, the Classic is typically smaller in scope than Spirit of America is.

[2] Beginning circa 1990s, Civil War reenactors began holding an annual event featuring mock battles each September at Point Mallard.