Where to watch the sparks fly: Area Independence Day fireworks and celebrations
By Kimberly Langston,
kimberlyl@westplainsdailyquill.net
Local and area July 4 activities and events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence are plentiful this year. Here are some located in West Plains and within a short drive.
June 27
One of the first fireworks displays will be held 9:30 p.m. Saturday on the campus of Arkansas State University-Mtn. Home, 1600 S. College St. in Mtn. Home, Ark.
It’s part of the Red White and Blue Festival that kicks off with a rodeo, held 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
More activities begin at 6 a.m. Saturday with registration for a 5K race to follow at 7 a.m. A parade will begin at 10 a.m. through downtown Mtn. Home and at 3 p.m. children’s activities and vendors can be found in the Dryer Hall parking lot. At 6 p.m. a cornhole tournament begins and there will be a free concert featuring Copper Flats and special guest Austin Michael.
At 7 p.m. Saturday a fish fry, cookout, and fireworks show, with aa bounce house for the kids, will be held at Berean Baptist Church, 7050 County Road 2750.
July 3
Skyfire returns; the event, formerly held at West Plains Regional Airport and resuming after a several-year hiatus, will begin at 5 p.m. July 3 at the Heart of the Ozarks Fairground off of U.S. 63 at Wayhaven Drive. At 5 p.m. the turnoff from north U.S. 63 will close and access to Wayhaven Drive will only be possible from Hubert Redburn Drive and McFarland Drive. Admission is $5 per car, cash only. Food trucks will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. and the event is hosted by Give Local First.
The 41st Annual Independence Day Eve fireworks show will be held July 3 at Norfork Lake, launched from barges located between the U.S. 62 and Highway 101 bridges in Henderson, Ark. The display starts at dark, accompanied by music broadcast on KPFM Country 105.5.
July 4
AMVETS Post 98 will hold its annual July 4 celebration beginning at 2 p.m. at 1852 County Road 6070 (Old U.S. 160) in West Plains. All are invited to the free family-friendly event. Games begin at 2 p.m. and food will be served at 3, with fireworks capping off the evening at dark.
“America 250,” sponsored by Explore West Plains, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Missouri State University-West Plains amphitheater near the corner of West Main Street and Franklin Avenue. Admission is free. Activities include non-motorized parade with a patriotic and semiquincentennial theme and a performance by the Ozark AcousChicks Women’s A Cappella Chorus, plus children’s activities and food trucks.
Willow Springs will hold its annual Fourth of July Parade at 10 a.m. followed by a patriotic program at 11 at the Star Theatre and a community picnic from noon to 3 p.m. at Booster Field. The picnic includes a performance by Stringed Union from 1 to 3 p.m. At 6 p.m. a dinner will be held at First General Baptist Church followed by fireworks.
“Family Freedom Fest” begins at 11 a.m., presented by the Mtn. View Chamber of Commerce, including a free pool day sponsored by the City of Mtn. View from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Other activities offered in conjunction are a watermelon eating contest, car show, and cookouts held by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3009 and a Rotary Club hog roast. At noon, a dessert food truck and vendors selling Americana-themed merchandise will open, and the evening wraps up with a parade at 6 p.m., music by Brandy Lee at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks at dark at the Mtn. View Municipal Airport.
In Thayer, the celebration begins at 5 p.m., featuring the Southern Edge Band at Thayer High School, 401 E. Walnut St. Admission is free; the event will include food trucks and vendors, games for children, sky divers, and an appearance by an Air Evac helicopter. Fireworks will begin at dusk.
The “Concert for a Cause” fundraising event for Whetstone Boys Ranch will be held from 5:30 to 10 p.m. July 4 at the Pine Meadows Venue, 1445 Highway 76. Tickets are $25 each and the event features a concert by Ha Ha Tonka, food trucks, family activities, and a fireworks display.
The Red, White and Bulldog Blue Fourth of July Block Party will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. on Main Street in Cabool. In addition to a fireworks display, there will be vendors, food trucks, live music, games and contests available.
July 8
At 5 p.m. July 8, the Josiah Howell Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (JHSAR) will present a reading of the Declaration of Independence at the west door of the Howell County Courthouse, followed by an event at Zizzer Stadium, off of North Howell Avenue. At about 6:30 a program will be held beginning with a welcome by JHSAR President Garry Birch, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” It is planned for the Declaration of Independence to be delivered by an Air Evac helicopter at about 7:30 p.m., followed by a second reading. All are invited to attend the free event, and food trucks will be on hand. Fireworks provided by Freedom Patch Fireworks and sponsored by Mandy’s Hot Dogs. Donations will be accepted to support JHSAR, a non-profit organization that funds a veterans scholarship at MSU-WP and assists with genealogy and Revolutionary War history.
