Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
'An American Salute'
SoNA returns to the AMP for Fourth of July festivities
Choosing music for a Fourth of July concert is “deceptively difficult,” says Paul Haas, music director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas.
“After you’ve done ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ and ‘The Stars and Stripes,’ there’s actually a lot of leeway in how to put it together,” Haas says. “I always like to program a concert like this with pieces absolutely everyone knows and loves, including film scores and old Americana, as you might expect. But I also like to insert something here and there that almost nobody knows but everyone will love, like an old fiddle tune arranged for the entire orchestra. As always with me, you never quite know what’s coming next!”
Haas will conduct the orchestra’s “An American Salute” starting at 7:30 p.m. July 4 at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion in Rogers. The concert is preceded by a free Family Fun Festival starting at 5 p.m. in the parking lot across from the AMP.
“Fourth of July fireworks displays [in Rogers] were traditionally held at Lake Atalanta until 2002,” says Ben Cline, a spokesman for the city of Rogers, which co-hosts the event. “Then [they were] held at Veterans Park until we started the partnership with the Walmart AMP.
“We realized we had such a great venue right in our own back yard,” he explains. “It was before my time, but the powers that be saw that it made sense, and we went for it.”
The Family Fun Festival includes balloon artists,
face painters, photos with superheroes, lawn games, a chance to inspect a fire truck and free watermelon provided by Regions Bank. Gates at the AMP open at 6 p.m. for concertgoers.
“The hardest challenges are keeping cool, not having your music blow off the stand, and being able to hear everyone else,” Haas says of the outdoor performance. “It’s an entirely different experience — but every bit as amazing.
“It’s important to have an arc to the program, with a buildup of energy,” he adds. “This is true in both halves of the concert, each building to the end. The first half ends with a salute to the members of our armed forces, and it’s awe-inspiring to see those who have served standing to be honored — hardly a dry eye in the house. And then, in the second half, the build is to the ‘1812 Overture,’ complete with cannon fire — and orchestral fire, too! And you never know.… Maybe there’ll be an encore!”
Fireworks start around 9:15 p.m.
JULY 4TH CELEBRATION
— Hot dogs, drinks at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at dark at New Sulphur Free Will Baptist Church, Hogeye Road in Prairie Grove. Free. 846-2051. CARDBOARD BOAT RACE — And Independence Day celebration, all day, Gar Creek Park in Ozark. Free. 667-2949. FOURTHFEST — Food, inflatables, games and fireworks, 7 p.m., First Baptist Church in Centerton. 795-2591.
AN EVENING AT ORCHARDS PARK — With music by Fayetteville Funk Factory and Arkansas Winds, 7 p.m., Orchards Park in Bentonville. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Free; concessions available. 464-7275 or playbentonville.com. FIREWORKS — Food, fun and fireworks, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., downtown Hindsville. Free. 789-6033. FIREWORKS FINALE — Following the 8 p.m. cruise on the Showboat Branson Belle, Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo. Cruise tickets are $28-$55. 800-775-2628. FIREWORKS — Dusk, high school football field in Booneville. Free. 675-2666.
FIREWORKS — 8:30 p.m., Ventris Trail’s End Resort on Beaver Lake near Garfield. Intended to be seen from boats. Free. 359-3912.
FIREWORKS — 8:30 p.m., Drinks, desserts and fireworks at dusk at Mount Comfort Church of Christ in Fayetteville. Free. 442-9171.
JIM ROLLO SECOND MEMORIAL FIREWORKS AND FISH FRY — Bring a dessert or drinks to share at the picnic dinner, beginning at 7 p.m. with fireworks at dusk at Hope Community Bible Church in Rogers. Free. 636-2457.