Pack a picnic, grab a blanket and bring the entire family to the City’s free annual Fourth of July Celebration and Fireworks Extravaganza presented by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities on July 4 at Dogwood Dell in Byrd Park.
The program will begin with a Children’s Carnival from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. behind the Ha’ Penny Stage on the west side of the Carillon. It will include inflatables, face painting, and games. Vendors will be on hand selling food and drinks in the children’s area as well as in the circle in front of the Dell stage throughout the evening. Of course, the public also can bring their own food and drinks or snacks, but no glass containers or alcohol are allowed in the park.
At 7:30 p.m., the Richmond Concert Band will take the stage to perform a program of pop and patriotic music, including many traditional numbers the audience will recognize and want to sing along with. The highlight of the evening is the annual finale, the “1812 Overture,” played with cannon fire and Carillon bells as it was originally composed to be played. The piece will conclude with the annual fireworks display.
Event parking will be available at City Stadium, located at 600 McCloy Street, with shuttle bus service to and from the Dell starting at 2 p.m. Individuals with valid handicapped parking stickers will be allowed to park in the Dell parking lot to the east of the Carillon. Carillon neighborhood streets will be closed to traffic and parking, and the Boulevard Bridge will close at approximately 6 p.m. and remained closed until the fireworks are over.
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