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Entertaining The Hours Of Your Week With Independence Day Festivities

OKCPhilharmonic.org

Friday marks 238 years since the United States declared its independence from Great Britain. Grab the lawn chairs, watermelon, Kool-Aid and blankets because central Oklahoma celebrates the Fourth of July with festivals and fireworks in several locations.

The Oklahoma City Philharmonic hosts its annual Red, White and Boom in the Entertainment Plaza at State Fair Park Thursday, July 3.

Music Director Joel Levine conducts the 70-plus member orchestra alongside guest vocalist Mike Eldred. The concert program includes traditional marches, music by Americana composer Irving Berlin and, of course, renditions of God Bless the USA and America the Beautiful

Food vendors will be on-site as the Red, White and Boom concert begins at 8:30 p.m. followed by a fireworks show at 10 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Freedom Fest in Yukon also begins Thursday, July 3 at Chisholm Trail Park with complimentary frozen custard from Freddy’s and live music by the Rodeo Opry followed by Irv Wagner’s Concert Band.

http://youtu.be/CjZKCjsgzxg

The event continues with an Independence Day schedule featuring a children’s parade, a BMX stunt show, a barbecue cook-off and a hot dog eating contest along with free concerts by the Roland Boland Band and the OKC Philharmonic.

Freedom Fest wraps up on both evenings with a fireworks display at 10 p.m.

Oklahoma City celebrates the holiday with the Bricktown 4th Fest and a free, public concert at the Myriad Botanical Gardens.

Credit Bricktown4thFest.com

The Chevy Stage on the corner of Sheridan and Oklahoma Avenues features continuous live music starting at 4 p.m. before this year’s Bricktown 4th Fest concludes with its popular fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

And Shawnee native Samantha Crain takes the Great Lawn Stage at the Myriad Gardens for an Independence Day folk-rock concert at 8 p.m. Aside from the burgers, fries and milkshakes served up at the Gardens’ Ice House, food-trucks and beer stations by Coop Ale Works are on-hand to supply visitors with Fourth of July fare.

As all you OneSix8 faithful should already know, Edmond’s LibertyFest draws to a close on Friday with its Parade, ParkFest and Fireworks Grand Finale in front of the University of Central Oklahoma.

The Fourth of July Norman Day Celebration takes place at Reaves Park with family-friendly activities like pony rides and moon bounces before the fireworks show begins at 9:45 p.m.

Credit Dan Alcalde / Flickr Creative Commons
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Flickr Creative Commons

Additional Independence Day festivities include Moore’s Celebration in the Heartland at Buck Thomas Park, the Seminole Chamber of Commerce’s 8th annual 4th of July Festival at Seminole Municipal Park and Freedom Fest at Lake El Reno.

Also, AAA Oklahoma provides a free service called “Tipsy Tow” for those who shouldn't drive this weekend. Tipsy Tow drivers will transport you, a passenger and your vehicle home within a 15-mile radius from the point of pickup – free of charge.

The service is available to AAA members and non-members alike in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Muskogee, Enid, Lawton, Shawnee, Bartlesville, Tahlequah and Ardmore from 6:00 p.m. Thursday, July 3 until 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 5. Call 1 (800) AAA-HELP (222-4357) to use the service.

For more ways to fill the 168 hours of your week, visit KGOU's event listings page.

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