Pops on the River, the annual Fourth of July celebration sponsored by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, has been canceled out of concerns for public health and safety.
Amanda Copley, the newspaper's marketing and events director, said the cancellation came at the request of the city of Little Rock and was based on safety issues.
Copley said one concern was that since the event would be free, controlling the number and density of crowds would have been difficult.
The July 4 event was scheduled to be held at Little Rock's Riverfront Park, and it would have marked its 37th consecutive year.
Events were to include a concert by the Arkansas Symphony -- with singer Nicki Parrish and trumpeter Rodney Block as opening acts -- on the stage of the amphitheater, a children's pavilion, a marketplace and a fireworks display finale.