Patriotic events planned to salute independence

By Brandy McDonnell

Published: June 29, 2007

Live music, salutes to veterans and, of course, fireworks will highlight Independence Day celebrations across Oklahoma.

Here is a roundup of Fourth of July festivities in some of the state's larger communities. For information on events in your area, call your local chamber of commerce.

In Oklahoma City, the inaugural Red, White & Boom on the River will offer live music, festival foods and giant inflatable toys Monday through Wednesday at Downtown Airpark, two miles south of Interstate 40 on Western. Fireworks will explode all three nights.

"It is a new venue; it was an airpark for several years,” said Chris Clifton, operations and marketing director for event organizer Brewer Entertainment. "It's 80.6 acres of wide open space located right on the river.”

The free event will feature local and national musicians in three distinctive genres. On Monday, gates open at 4 p.m. for the Rock and Roll Reunion on the River. The line-up will feature Mike Black and the Stingrays, The Hodads and others. Blood Sweat and Tears with guest Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night will headline.

Gates open at 4 p.m. Tuesday for Patriotic Pops on the River, featuring the Oklahoma City Philharmonic with guests Kelli O'Hara and Mike Eldred. The Philharmonic Brass Quintet, New Orleans Dixieland and The Mariachi Lopez also will perform.

Red Dirt on the River will be Wednesday, and Jack Ingram will headline. Gates open at 2 p.m., and 11 bands will play on two stages. For more information, call 236-4143.

The Centennial Bricktown Fourth of July will be Wednesday at Sheridan and Oklahoma avenues. The event will include an art exhibit along the Bricktown Canal from noon to 8 p.m., performances by children's dance and singing groups from 5 to 6 p.m., a hot-dog eating contest at 6 p.m. and live music from classic rock band Full Circle from 7 to 10 p.m. The event will not feature a parade this year, said Jim Cowan, Bricktown Association executive director.

The Oklahoma RedHawks will play the Nashville Sounds at 7:05 p.m., and fireworks will follow the game. For more information, call 236-8666.

Edmond's LibertyFest 2007 continues this weekend with events at various venues. The Miss Edmond Libertyfest scholarship pageant and a car show will be Saturday. A rodeo and kite-flying event will take place Saturday and Sunday. Sunday's line-up will include A Taste of Edmond, a sampling event featuring several restaurants, and a road rally.

A new LibertyFest activity, the Chalk It Up chalk drawing contest Tuesday, also will include clowns, karaoke and water games. The festival culiminates Wednesday with a parade, children's activities, live music by local band Ambiance and fireworks.

For more information, call 340-2527 or go online to www.libertyfest.com.

The Oklahoman Centennial Freedom Festival will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Eldon Lyon Park, 7400 NW 39 Expressway in Bethany. Festival-goers can follow the 10 a.m. parade from Southern Nazarene University to the park, where carnival rides, outdoor laser tag and fireworks will be among the activities.

People can participate in the "Oklahoma Idol” and "So You Think You Can Dance” contests. The Oklahoma National Guard Band, Fresh Sunday, Richard Hight and Harvey and the Wallbangers will perform. For more information, call 789-5005 or go online to www.cityofbethany.org.

Yukon Freedom Fest will be Tuesday and Wednesday at City Park and Chisholm Trail Park. It will begin at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at Chisholm Trail Park with live music by Mike Black and the Stingrays, A Tribute to Veterans with Irv Wagner's Concert Band and fireworks.

Activities will start at 8 a.m. Wednesday at City Park and include a car show, beach volleyball tournament, children's parade, family games and free swimming. The Centennial Opry Band, Oklahoma City Philharmonic and fireworks will cap the event at Chisholm Trail Park. For more information, call 350-8937 or go online to www.ci.yukon.ok.us.

The 32nd annual Norman Day Celebration will be Wednesday at Reaves Park, north of State Highway 9 on Jenkins Avenue. The activities will begin at noon and feature an ugliest dog contest, hot-dog eating contest, sand volleyball, pony rides and fireworks. Live music by The John Arnold Band and Brave Combo will begin at 5 p.m. For more information, call 366-5472 or go online to www.normanfun.com.

"Tulsa Salutes Freedom” will offer entertainment on both sides of the Arkansas River on Wednesday evening. Live entertainment including Project Huckleberry and the Desert Wind Belly Dancers will start at 4 p.m. at Rivers Edge Bistro and Cafe, 1924 S Riverside Drive.

Festivities at River West Festival Park, 2100 S Jackson, will start at 6 p.m. and include entertainment by the Disney Performance Group and Starlight Concert Band. A street party will take place near the Zink Dam and Pedestrian Bridge.

An old-fashioned family picnic and concert will start at 5 p.m. at Veterans Park, 1875 S Boulder Ave. Performers will include Rebecca Ungerman, Cindy Cain and the MidLife Crisis Band. At 6:30 p.m., a family fun run will start at the park. Fireworks will be shot off at 9:35 p.m. from the 21st Street bridge.

For more information, call (918) 596-2001 or go online to www.tulsa salutesfreedom.com.

In Stillwater, The Boomer Blast Celebration will be Wednesday at Boomer Lake Park, Lakeview Road and Washington Street. Registration for the fishing tournament will start at 6 a.m., and the contest will be from 7 to 11 a.m. The celebration also will include a 10 a.m. event honoring veterans, featuring a 21-gun salute and parasailing demonstration. The fireworks display will be postponed due to recent heavy rainfall. For more information, call (405) 747-8070.

Also, the annual Tour of Payne bike ride Wednesday will begin close to the starting point of the 1889 land run in north Stillwater and travel on various routes through Payne County. The ride will start at 7:30 a.m. For more information, call (405) 372-2525 or go online to www.reddirtpedalers. org.

"I Love America” will be the theme of the Independence Day celebration from 2 to 10 p.m. Wednesday at Elmer Thomas Park, NW Ferris and Second in Lawton. Activities will include children's games, skydiving demonstrations, military displays, fireworks and a 100-person choir and full orchestra performing gospel and patriotic songs. For more information, call (580) 536-9325 or go online to www.lawtonfirst.org.