"It's kind of strange ... that the piece every American orchestra plays in its July 4th concert celebrates the Russian victory over Napoleon and France," muses Paul Haas, music director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas.
But there's "something about the cannon fire and the glorious music" of the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky "that speaks to people's patriotism," he admits. "For whatever reason, it's become as American as apple pie."
FAQ
Fourth of July
Fireworks Spectacular
WHEN — Free family festival, 5-8 p.m.; AMP gates open at 6 p.m. with SoNA at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE — Walmart AMP in Rogers
COST — $3-$35 in advance; $5-$40 day of show
INFO — 443-5600 or www.amptickets.com
The Overture will be the culmination of a SoNA performance July 4 that leads into 15 minutes of fireworks over the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion. The event begins with free family activities from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Unilever/Kimberly-Clark parking lot west of the AMP. Hosted by the Walton Arts Center and the city of Rogers, the festival includes face painting, balloon twisters, giant Jenga and other games, airbrush tattoo artists, live performers, miniature putt-putt golf and a "snack shack," promises Jennifer Wilson, public relations director for the WAC.
"Rogers was doing a Family Fest and fireworks, and when we opened the AMP, we thought it would be natural to connect with the city and offer a larger venue for this to happen at," Wilson says. "Plus, it's a more approachable way to experience classical music in an environment that allows people to move around and have fun."
Haas says his Fourth of July memories always included fireworks.
"After a relaxing day in the sun, our family used to pile into a motorboat (either ours or a friend's) and chug out to the middle of Lake Tahoe to water ski, eat a picnic and then watch the fireworks," he recalls. "I was invariably asleep by the time we got home, so my dad would carry me in to bed."
Wilson says growing up in Pine Bluff, "we would always load everyone in the car and go to the convention center and they would shoot fireworks. I'm an only child, so we didn't do a lot of the loud noisemakers, but I love for people to shoot them around me.
"Fireworks and a symphony," she enthuses. "You can't beat that!"
-- Becca Martin-Brown
Other Fourth of July celebrations include:
Gentry
Barrett Baber will be the entertainer to lead up to the giant fireworks display in Gentry City Park on July 4th. Also performing during the afternoon and early evening will be Southern Traditions Bluegrass Band, River's Edge Band, Trumann Rail Boys and Kaitlin Carlson. Other July 4 events and activities include a car show, tiny tot pageant, Miss Gentry Pageant, a bicycle and tricycle parade, Kids' Zone and games, and lots of festival food.
INFO -- 736-2358 or email [email protected].
Greenwood
The 11th annual Freedom Fest will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 4 at Memorial Park in Greenwood. The day will include arts and crafts vendors, BMX demonstrations, street performers and equipment displays from local police and fire departments. Featured entertainer will be Rhonda Vincent.
INFO -- 806-2241 or greenwoodar.com.
Ventris Trail
The 16th annual Ventris Trail's End Resort's fireworks display will be held from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday south of Marker 8 on Beaver Lake. Watch thousands of fireworks light up the night sky while listening to patriotic music. Show is intended to be seen by boat only.
INFO -- 359-3912 or beaverlakeresorts.com.
Fort Smith
Bring the children to the Fort Smith Museum of History from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday for Fourth of July Craft Making. Make a patriotic craft and enjoy refreshments. The event is free with museum admission ($2-$7) and open to children 12 years of age and younger accompanied by a parent.
INFO -- 783-7841 or fortsmithmuseum.org.
Mountainburg
Cruise to the end of Lake Fort Smith and watch the Mountainburg fireworks display from aboard a tour boat at Lake Fort Smith State Park from 8 to 10 p.m. July 4.
Cost is $10 adults, $6 for children ages 6-12, and 6 and younger free.
RESERVATIONS -- 369-1018.
Mountainburg
Join the Lake Fort Smith Park interpreters for a few hours of family-friendly outdoor games from 10 a.m. to noon July 4. Come ready to eat some watermelon and be ready for a water balloon battle.
INFO -- 369-2469.
West Fork
Enjoy a fun-filled family day of horseshoes, parades and homemade ice cream starting at noon July 4 at Devil's Den State Park in West Fork. Free.
INFO -- 761-3325.
Prairie Grove
Celebrate Prairie Grove will be held 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The Prairie Grove Aquatic Park will be open free of charge for swimming. Free hot dog supper and drinks. Fireworks display at dark.
Farmington
City of Farmington will sponsor its annual fireworks show beginning at dark July 4 at Farmington High School football stadium.
Springdale
From July 1-4 the Northwest Arkansas Naturals are on a homestand and will celebrate with four nights of fireworks. The July 1 display will be accompanied by '80s music. Arvest Ballpark is located at 3000 S. 56th St. Springdale. Baseball at 7:05 p.m., with fireworks after the game.
INFO -- nwanaturals.com.
Prairie Creek
On Saturday at 9 p.m., enjoy fireworks at Prairie Creek Marina with live music by the Bottlerocket Band. The marina is located at 1 Prairie Creek Marina Drive in Rogers.
INFO -- prairiecreekmarina.com.
Rogers
Cross Church at Pinnacle Hills, 2441 S. Pinnacle Hills Parkway in Rogers, will hold a fireworks show starting at dusk Sunday. Events begin at 5 p.m. with live music and vendors.
INFO -- crosschurch.com.
Pocola, Okla.
Choctaw Casino Resort at Pocola invites the community to a free fireworks show on Independence Day. The fireworks show will be set to music courtesy of KISR and Today's Country The New 93.1 and La Raza and will begin at dusk.
On July 2 and 3 Backroad Anthem, the pop country group from Fayetteville, will perform a free concert at Gilley's at Choctaw Casino Resort.
INFO -- (580) 380-5967.
Bentonville
Bentonville Parks and Recreation invites the community to attend An Evening at Orchards Park: Bentonville's 4th of July Fireworks Celebration. Music will begin at 7 p.m. with the Fayetteville Funk Factory, followed by the Arkansas Winds orchestra's "Tribute to America," a series of patriotic songs. At approximately 9:30 p.m., the largest fireworks show in Northwest Arkansas will take place.
The event is free to the public. Concessions will be available, and patrons are welcome to bring their own coolers to the event. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Citizens may take advantage of the Melvin Ford Aquatic Center's special swim day on July 4th, with no admission charged to swim at the public pool. The hours of operation are from noon to 7 p.m.
INFO -- 464-7275 or playbentonville.com.
Bella Vista
The city of Bella Vista's annual fireworks display will be held just after dark on Monday at the park below Loch Lomond dam on Glasgow Road.
The display is open to the public, and Bella Vista police will be directing vehicles for parking starting at 5 p.m.
Bella Vista
The Bella Vista Patriots will host the 4th of July Patriot Parade beginning at 9:30 a.m. July 4 in the Sugar Creek Shopping Center parking lot. The event is designed to honor past and present military personnel, particularly showcasing World War II veterans. The grand marshal is Andy Anderson, who was a staff sergeant with the 348th Army Corps of Engineers.
Siloam Springs
Siloam Springs will hold their July 4th Fire in the Sky celebration at Siloam Springs Municipal Airport, 4600 Smith Field Drive; parking lot opens at 6 p.m. There will be inflatables for kids, a DJ and parachutists. The fireworks display will begin at 9:15 p.m. July 4. The rain date will be July 5th.
Eureka Springs
For the first time since 2006, Eureka Springs will have fireworks at Lake Leatherwood to celebrate Independence Day. The display will actually take place at dusk on Sunday.
Eureka Springs
Fire fighters and volunteers from the Grassy Knob Volunteer Fire Association in Eureka Springs invite the community to celebrate summer at an Ice Cream Social from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Grassy Knob Community Center, 10237 Arkansas 187. There will be banana splits, sundaes and a build-your-own-masterpiece topping bar.
-- Teresa Hufford
NAN What's Up on 06/30/2017