Celebrating the Fourth

• Advocate staff report
• Published: Jun 30, 2008 - UPDATED: 11 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

Fireworks, patriotic music, hot dogs, mock battles and plenty of fun abound at various Independence Day celebrations.

Thursday, JULY 3

DONALDSONVILLE: The Fireworks on the River celebration begins at 5 p.m. in Crescent Park. Food, music and fireworks at dark.

HAMMOND: Light Up the Sky for the 4th of July.  Food, games, park train rides and fireworks. Zemurray Park, opens at 5 p.m. Fireworks at dark. For more information, call Hammond City Hall at (985) 542-3400.

PONCHATOULA: 8th annual Fireworks Show, Ponchatoula Area Recreation District park at 19030 Ponchatoula Park Drive, off North Hoover Road. Gates open at 5 p.m., 30-minute computerized fireworks show begins at dusk, and entertainment by Butch Meyn from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more details, call Cathy Brignac at (985) 370-7273.

BATON ROUGE: The 36th annual Independence Day Parade through Kenilworth Subdivision starts at 6:30 p.m. The parade — which features veterans and active military groups, art cars, floats, bands, clowns and local celebrities — begins and ends at Kenilworth Middle School on Boone Drive, east of Kenilworth Parkway.

FRIDAY, JULY 4

BATON ROUGE: Star-spangled celebration at the downtown riverfront features:

--BASF Freedom Mile run/walk, 8 a.m., from Casino Rouge to the USS KIDD Veterans Memorial. Shuttles available. Contact the Club South Runners at (225) 927-9200, (225) 767-5386 or clubsouthrunners.com.

--Tour of the USS KIDD, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (225) 342-1942 or visit http://www.usskidd.com.

--Riverfront Plaza Celebration: food booths open at noon and patriotic music broadcast until 2 p.m., when the celebration kicks off between the USS KIDD and Red Stick Plaza. No ice chests, barbecue pits or grills, tents or pets allowed on the festival grounds.

--Live performances: Westbound Train with Anita Leblanc, 2 p.m.; Van Broussard & Bayou Boogie Band, 3 p.m.; NA NA SHA, 4 p.m.; Floyd Brown Band, 5 p.m.; The Chris Leblanc Band, 6:30 p.m., and Baton Rouge Concert Band, 8 p.m.

--F-15 Fly Over: 6 p.m.-6:30 p.m. The USS KIDD is “attacked” by World War II aircraft, F-15 Eagle Fighters of the Louisiana Air National Guard. Also, hot-air balloon lift-off.

--Fireworks on the Mississippi, 9 p.m., sponsored by The Advocate, WBRZ-TV, and Bayou Pontiac, Buick & GMC Dealers.

BATON ROUGE: Confetti and Fireworks, LSU Museum of Art at the Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St., 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dining, dancing and private viewing of the Mari and James A. Michener Collection. $150 per person. (225) 389-7212 or www.lsumoa.com.

BATON ROUGE: Independence Day Indulgence, Manship Theatre, Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St., fourth floor River Terrace with views of the river and the fireworks display, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Southern food and cash bar. Tickets are $50 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under, accompanied by an adult. (225) 344-0334 or visit www.manshiptheatre.org

BATON ROUGE: One Nation Under God choir and orchestra concert, 6 p.m. First Baptist Church, 529 Convention St.

BOGALUSA: 10 a.m., Fourth of July parade sponsored by American Legion Post 24, features military vehicles, motorcycles, antique cars, bands and the Paper Ball queen. Commemorative bells inscribed with “Let Freedom Ring” are $5 apiece. Call Heather McDaniel at (985) 516-2084 for information. 

PLAQUEMINE: As part of the annual July Fourth Celebration in downtown Plaquemine, the Iberville Museum will host several activities from noon to 6 p.m., including the grand opening of “The Spanish of Iberville” exhibit at 4 p.m. with various speakers and a presentation on Canary Island migration. Plaquemine native and author J. E. Bourgoyne and photographer J.G. Tyburski will be on hand from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to sign copies of their book “Marietta's House-A Grandmother's Cottage” as well representatives from the area chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution. The museum — at 57735 Main St. downtown — will waive its admission fee for the day. (225) 687-7197.

ST. FRANCISVILLE: Fireworks and fun, 6:30 p.m., at Town Ball Park (behind the Sonic), the American Legion will provide complimentary hot dogs and soft drinks. Fireworks begin at dark. For more information, call Laurie Walsh at (225) 635-3873.

SATURDAY, JULY 5

ST. AMANT: The St. Amant Volunteer Fire Department celebration at the Jimmy Babin Complex, at the end of Bayou Terrace Road. Food, music and an Diversion Canal Idol singing contest. The event starts at 11 a.m. and ends with fireworks. Proceeds go to building a new fire station on the Diversion Canal.