Food, fun, fireworks scheduled for Fourth of July
The Fourth of July is about celebrating the nation’s birthday, and the day usually includes food, fun activities and fireworks.
Residents of the River Valley
& Ozark Edition coverage area have plenty of choices of events to attend.
Danville — The city of Danville’s annual fireworks display will be at 9 p.m. Wednesday at 1299 E. Eighth St.
Dardanelle — The Front Street Downtown Dardanelle Celebration will begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday with free activities, including paintball, water inflatables, a rock wall and arts and crafts. Food vendors will be available as well. Music will begin at 5 p.m. with Walk on Faith, followed by William Brothers and Friends at 6 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., Rawhide will take the stage until the fireworks display at 9:15 p.m.
Lake Dardanelle State Park will hold a Know Your State Contest in the Visitor Center at noon Wednesday. Teams will compete for prizes.
Fairfield Bay — The Fourth of July Festival at the Bay has events on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. A free One Nation Under God concert by the Cherokee National Youth Choir is scheduled from 6- 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Heritage Center at Indian Rock Cave. On Wednesday, a Lions Club Pancake Breakfast will take place from 8-10 a.m., followed by a parade at 9 a.m., beginning at the Baptist Church on Hillview Drive and traveling along Dave Creek Parkway. Call (501) 884-6008 to enter a float. Tom Sawyer Days, a free event, is scheduled from 1-4 p.m., and at 9 p.m., Fireworks at the Lake with music by KFFB 106.1 will begin. The Red, White & Blue Golf Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. at Indian Hills Golf Resort. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. The fourperson scramble costs $50 per person or $200 per team. Pulled pork and sloppy Joes will be provided. Six Ways from Sunday will perform from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Fairfield Bay Marina. More information is available by calling (501) 884-6500.
Greenbrier — The city will hold a fireworks show at dark at the baseball field near the high school, Mayor Sammy Joe Hartwick said.
Woolly Hollow State Park — The state park in Greenbrier is sponsoring Let’s Hike in America the Beautiful from 9-10 a.m. and a sandcastle competition from 2-2:30 p.m.
Greers Ferry — The Greers Ferry City Fireworks event is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. in Greers Ferry City Park.
Heber Springs — The annual Fireworks Extravaganza has gained a reputation for being one of the larger shows in Arkansas. The free event will be held Tuesday at Sandy Beach on Greers Ferry Lake. Gates will open at 10 a.m., and a full day of activities is planned. Attendees can arrive by boat or car. A $10 parking fee is required for vehicles. Gates will open at 10 a.m. for a fun-filled day on the beach before the festivities begin, including food vendors. The 106th Army Band Charlie Rock will perform at 7:30 p.m.
At 9:30 p.m., thousands of fireworks will be launched, choreographed to music broadcast on 106.1 FM KFFB.
Maumelle — Maumelle 4th Fest is scheduled from 4:30-10 p.m. at Lake Willastein Park, sponsored by Maumelle Parks and Recreation. The packed schedule of events starts at 4:30 p.m. with a parade along Millwood Circle and Club Manor Drive.
At 5 p.m., the festival starts, featuring vendors, concessions and family games, including a rubber-chicken-throwing contest and Baggo, as well as performances, inflatables and the fifth annual Cardboard Boat Races. Sponsored by the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce, the races start at 5:30 p.m. at the boat ramp. This year’s theme is The Spirit of ’76. Costumes are encouraged. The races are billed as a “great team-building project for businesses, families, schools, civic and church organizations.”
At 6:15 p.m., the parade awards will be presented at the amphitheatre. Tutus and Tennis Shoes will perform at 6:20 p.m. on the stage, prior to the presentation of the boatrace honors at 6:40 p.m.
At 7:50 p.m., the Pledge of Allegiance will be recited, followed by the singing of the national anthem. More music is scheduled at 8 p.m. by Canvas. The event will culminate at 9:30 p.m. with fireworks at Lake Willastein.
May f l o w e r — The Independence Day celebration is scheduled for Wednesday at the high school football field. The gates will open at 4 p.m.; the fireworks show will begin at dark.
Morrilton — The city will host Fabulous Fourth along the banks of the Arkansas River at Cherokee Park off Church Street from 5-9:30 p.m. Wednesday. “We’re having hot dogs, water, face-painting, [live music], a fireworks show when it gets dark,” Morrilton Mayor Allen Lipsmeyer said. “This is our 20th year to do this. It’s free to the public.”
Petit Jean State Park in Morrilton — July 4th Fun and Games Day will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Billed as “an old-fashioned celebration” of the nation’s birthday, the event will start at 9 a.m. with a parade. People are asked to bring their bicycles to the amphitheater parking lot at 8:30 a.m. to decorate them, or bring predecorated bikes. A wheelbarrow race is scheduled from 10:15-11:30 a.m., a three-legged race from 10:3010:45 a.m., a hula-hoop contest from 10:45-11 a.m.; a kickball game from 11 a.m. to noon. Water-balloon volleyball is set for 3-4 p.m., and a waterballoon toss from 4-4:30. For more information, call Petit Jean State Park at (501) 727-5441.
Rus s e l l v i l l e — The Russellville Recreation and Parks Department will put on the city’s annual fireworks display at the Lock and Dam at Old Post Park, starting about 9:20 p.m.
“When it’s in the middle of the week, it’s always busy,” said Terry Thomas, director of the department.
He said the West Central River Valley Community Band will provide music at 8 p.m. on the stage behind the tennis courts.
“It’s all free,” he said. “They’re welcome to come in and cook and that type of stuff. It’s a large park; it’s a [U.S. Army] Corps of Engineer Park.” tkeith@arkansas online.com.