Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
CSO AND ETSO P
It’s not officially July Fourth in town without the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera’s annual patriotic pops concert. And Pops on the River will be held Wednesday, July 3, in Coolidge Park, conducted by Kayoko Dan.
Thousands of concertgoers will haul lawn chairs and picnic dinners into the park to enjoy the free CSO concert and fireworks finale.
Starting at 5:30 p.m., street performers from ArtsBuild-funded agencies as well as from SoundCorps’ Sidewalk Stages will be entertaining throughout the park.
A special tribute to veterans featuring singers and songwriters from Operation Song, an innovative therapeutic program that helps veterans cope with PTSD through songwriting, will be presented from 5 to 7 p.m.
The CSO will begin its patriotic program at 8 p.m. playing favorites such “Stars and Stripes Forever” and its signature finale, Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” The New Dismembered Tennesseans will join the CSO as featured guests.
“We’ll be performing family favorites with a Disney Magic medley, music from ‘Frozen,’ plus patriotic tunes such as ‘Armed Forces Salute,’” says Samantha Teter, CSO executive director.
“We are also performing the three Chattanooga fanfares that debuted this past season in our Masterworks Series from local composers Doug Hedwig, Tim Hinck and Jonathan McNair.”
The fireworks display, shot from neighboring Renaissance Park, will begin immediately after the conclusion of the CSO performance, approximately 9:45 p.m.
A variety of food and drink concessions will be available on-site.
Note: Carla Pritchard of Chattanooga Presents, which produces Pops on the River, advises that Coolidge Park will close to vehicular traffic at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. There will be free shuttle service running from the Republic parking lots between Fourth and Fifth streets from 4:30 to 11 p.m. The lots are pay-to-park.
For more information: 423-265-0771.