Pops on the River

CSO’s patriotic concert in the park is Sunday

Get your red, white and blue on and head to Coolidge Park Sunday night, July 3, for one of Chattanooga’s most popular summer concerts.

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera orchestra will present its annual Pops on t he River, an Independence weekend concert featuring a patriotic program of music at 8 p.m. that concludes in a fireworks extravaganza at 9:45 p.m.

Come early, set up your lawn chairs and enjoy a picnic on the grounds while waiting for t he orchestra to begin. Food and drink concessions also will be available at the park.

Kathy Allison, CSO operations manager, says the orchestra will open with the national anthem followed by “American Salute” by Morton Gould. The musicians will play toe- tapping marches by John Philips Sousa and the inspirational Olympic fanfare and “Olympic Spirit” composed by John Williams.

Fletcher Bright and The Dismembered Tennesseans will join the CSO for a set. A medley of songs recognizing all branches of the Armed Forces will be performed as well as Richard Hayman’s “Sing Out, America!” And in keeping with Pops tradition, the concert will close with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

Organizers at Chatt anooga Presents say Coolidge Park will close ers can catch a shuttle running from Republic parking l ots ( formerly the Unum lots) between Fourth and Fifth streets between 6 and 11 p.m. The shuttle is free, but the lots are pay-to-park.

Shuttles will pick up and drop off on the north side of the river near the Chattanooga Theatre Centre at the intersection of Tremont and River streets.

STAFF FILE PHOTO Fireworks light up the sky above the Tennessee River at the conclusion of a previous Pops on the River featuring the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera.