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Four 4th celebrations this week in county |
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Monday, 30 June 2008 |
Area residents will have several opportunities to celebrate the Fourth of July locally.
A fireworks show at Hurricane Lake Estates took place Saturday night, but four other celebrations are scheduled this week. All of the events are free to the public and include fireworks extravaganzas.
The first celebration will occur Thursday night at Arkansas Health Center. Activities will begin around 6:30 p.m. and will conclude with a fireworks show on the center grounds, according to David Donham, who coordinates special events for the center. Refreshments and live entertainment will be included.
Friends of Arkansas Health Center, a nonprofit agency that supports center residents, is sponsoring the observance.
The traditional celebrations at Benton’s Tyndall Park will be taking place on Friday, the actual Independence Day holiday.
Benton’s events will get under way around 6 p.m. with performances by musical groups. Alderman Joe Lee Richards and Joe Head, an 80-year-old musician who played with many famous entertainers including the late Eddie Arnold, will be featured at Pavilion 1. Performing in the amphitheater will be contemporary Christian groups, The Revealing and Messenger.
At 9 p.m. the city’s traditional fireworks show is scheduled. Night Vision of Memphis will conduct this presentation that will be “as big as the law allows,” according to Curtis McCormack, director of the city’s parks and recreation department.
Food vendors will be selling their wares at the event, McCormack said.
The 10th annual Bryant Family Fest at Mills Park on Friday and Saturday is expected to attract a record turnout, founder/coordinator James Ballew said.
Simple Plan, a well-known band that has had nine Billboard Top 40 hits, will be the featured entertainment offering, Ballew said. Other entertainers scheduled for the event will include Nashville artist Chuck Gatlin, Mr. Happy, 3rd Degree, Chris Wyatt, Cayerio, Bushdog and Chicago-based 17th Floor. Ballew said that 17th Floor is the No. 1 touring college band in the country and will be headlining Friday night.
Admission to the festival is free and parking at the softball fields is free, but VIP parking will be available inside Mills Park for $10. The children’s area will include slides, a barrel train, bouncer, jumper, face-painting, slides and other offerings.
Also scheduled are an antique car show that will feature more than 100 classic cars from throughout the state. In addition, the pool and skate park at Mills Park will be open to the public and a two-on-two basketball tournament is planned.
Events in Lake Norrell will begin with a cookout at 5 p.m. Friday and continue through Saturday, concluding with a 9 p.m. fireworks show Saturday. The area’s Man of the Year and Woman of the Year will be announced at the cookout.
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