July 4, 2014: Best spots to view fireworks, enjoy festivities in Southcentral Pa.
For a list of 2015 festivities, click here.
2014 Fireworks
Jacobus: Don't miss the annual Fourth of July BLAST event, kicking off at 8:45 a.m. July 4 with a children's parade at the Jacobus Community Park, South Main Street. Additional activities include pageants, contests, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, face painting, a battle of the bands and more. Fireworks will start at dusk. For more information, visit jacobuspa.com.
York: York's free Fourth of July community celebration and fireworks display presented by the York Revolution is returning to Santander Stadium, the Revolution's home. A year ago, over 10,000 fans packed the Downtown ballpark, taking up all seats and the field to enjoy the festivities and fireworks finale. The schedule of events is as follows:
• 3:30 p.m.: Gates open – children's activities and playground open
• 4 p.m.: Showing of The LEGO Movie on the stadium videoboard
• 6 p.m.: Country concert featuring rising star Katie Armiger (performing on-field), presented by Great Country 107.7 WGTY
• 8 p.m.: Jazz Ambassadors of the U.S. Army Field Band (performing on-field)
• 9:30 p.m.: Show-stopping Fireworks show (fans may sit on-field or in seating bowl)
Parking for the event will be free, in the following locations: Small Athletic Field adjacent to Santander Stadium, Northwest Triangle on Beaver Street and parking garages on Market, Philadelphia and King Streets. Handicapped parking is available at the usual Santander Stadium locations, with the exception of the Brooks Robinson Plaza Lot. A carnival on the Brooks Robinson Plaza outside the stadium gates will feature inflatables, water amusements, Imagination Playground, hot food, cold drinks and ice cream. The Revolution's “DownTown” Playground will be open and free for the event, which will feature the same carousel, inflatable slides, obstacle course and climbing challenges that are open during all Revolution home games. Face painters and balloon artists will round out the fun for the little ones. No outside food or beverage is permitted at the event. All other Santander Stadium policies apply for July4York. For full parking information and stadium policies, visit www.YorkRevolution.com.
Hanover: Liberty Day 2014 will feature food and fun all day long July 4 at Moul Field in Hanover. Sponsored by the borough of Hanover and the Hanover Recreation Board, the schedule includes:
• 7:15 to 8 a.m: Registration for the 10K and 2 Mile Huston Hustle at the stand at Moul and Ridge avenues.
• 8:15 a.m.: 10K Liberty Day Run begins, followed by the 2 Mile Huston Hustle at 8:25 a.m.
• 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: The concession stand will be open with pizza available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Baseball/Softball Homerun Derby for boys and girls; under age 7 at 8:30 a.m.; ages 8 to 10 at 9:15 a.m.; ages 11 to 12 at 10 a.m.; ages 13 to 15 at 10:45 a.m.
• 9 a.m.: John McKim Horseshoe Tournament registration, with the competition beginning at 10 a.m.
• 9 a.m.: Volleyball Tournament begins.
• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Fire Department games along with children's games and face painting sponsored by the borough Recreation Department.
• 7:30 p.m. The evening entertainment features the Colgan Hirsh Band.
• 9:30 p.m. Fireworks display.
Stewartstown: Festivities have been moved to Saturday, July 5, at the Stewartstown Community Fairgrounds, 16 College Ave., Stewartstown. JC Fisher Band will provide live music at 7:30 p.m., with fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Red Lion: Fireworks will begin at dusk on Thursday, July 3, with the best viewing from Horn Field at Red Lion Area Senior High School, 200 Horace Mann Ave.
Gettysburg: Destination Gettysburg is sponsoring a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. July 4 from the north end of the Gettysburg College campus. The fireworks follow a concert of patriotic music from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at the college's Pennsylvania Hall featuring members of the Metta Ensemble and the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra. The fireworks can be viewed from several points throughout the campus and town, including the grassy area just east of the campus athletic center on West Lincoln Avenue and on Oak Hill in the Gettysburg National Military Park. July 4 is also the first day of the Gettysburg Anniversary Civil War Battle Re-enactment, which runs through July 6 at the Yingling Farm, south of Gettysburg. For re-enactment information, visit www.gettysburgreenactment.com. For Gettysburg tourism information, visit www.destinationgettysburg.com.
Harrisburg: The fireworks show will be on display over the Susquehanna River and Riverfront Park beginning at dusk on Saturday, July 5.
Lebanon: A full day of activities is planned at Coleman Memorial Park on the Fourth of July.
Lebanon's annual fireworks display will be set off at approximately 9 p.m. at Coleman Memorial Park. The rain date for the fireworks display is July 5. Fireworks Extravaganza, Rochelle Park, N.J., is setting off this year's display.
The Lebanon Community Concert Band will perform in the Amphitheater beginning at 4 p.m. Admission to the concert is free. Organizers encouraged those attending the concert to take lawn chairs.
Water games for all ages will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Lauther Memorial Water Complex.
Admission to the pool is $6 for adults between the ages of 18 and 62, $4 for students between the ages of 5 and 7, $4 for seniors age 62 and older and $2 for infants and toddlers, age 4 and under. Admission for infants and toddlers includes a swim diaper.
Special pool hours for July 4 are noon to 6 p.m. weather permitting.
For the safety of spectators, bicycles will be prohibited in the parking area near the ball field after 5 p.m. on July 4. Dogs will not be permitted in the spectator area. Sparklers, fireworks and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the park.
The fireworks are funded, in part, by donations from businesses and residents. Donations will be accepted at the park on July 4. Donations can also be mailed to Fireworks for the Fourth, in care of Cheryl Gates, City Clerk, 400 S. Eighth St., Lebanon, Pa. 17042.
Lancaster: The U.S. Army Band Pershing's Own will give a patriotic concert at the Long's Park Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 6, as part of the park's free Summer Music Series. A fireworks display will begin at 9:30 p.m. at the park, located at Route 30 and Harrisburg Pike.
Chambersburg: UPDATE:Bad weather has postponed the fireworks. They will go off on July 11. Memorial Park, off Stouffer Avenue, will have a patriotic concert at 7:30 p.m.by Mercersburg Community Band, in the Kiwanis Band Shell, followed by fireworks beginning at dusk; 261-3275.
Shippensburg: Fireworks will begin at dusk in Veterans Memorial Park, Park Place off U.S. 11 west of Shippensburg.
Hershey: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the Hershey Symphony Orchestra will hold an Independence Day Celebration July 4, on the front lawn of the Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey. This free concert begins at 7:30 p.m. with a patriotic performance from the Hershey Symphony. Food will be available for sale beginning at 6 p.m. Wellness activities for children will run from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. The fireworks at Hersheypark begin at approximately 10 p.m. and can be seen from the lower lawn following the concert.
Baltimore: Celebrate the Fourth of July at Baltimore's Inner Harbor with music and fireworks. Top 40s band Thunderball will perform at 4 p.m. July 4 followed by U.S. Naval Academy Band Electric Brigade at 7 p.m. at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater at Pratt and Light streets. The fireworks, choreographed to music, begin at 9:30 p.m., and can be viewed from downtown as well as Federal Hill, Fell's Point and Harbor East.
Reading: The Reading Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Andrew Constantine, will perform a free community concert at 8 p.m. July 4, at FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Reading Fightin Phils, to celebrate our nation's birthday. This concert will highlight many patriotic selections as well as a salute to our veterans. Some of the concert highlights include: Take Me out to the Ball Game, Beethoven's 5th Symphony, William Tell Overture, 1812 Overture and many more. This patriotic concert will also feature solos by Charles Reid and a special appearance by the Berks Youth Chorus. The night will conclude with an amazing fireworks display. The rain-date will be July 5. Free tickets for this event are available at FirstEnergy Stadium and local Boscov's Courtesy Desks while supplies last. The RSO will also be collecting non-perishable food items and canned goods to support the Greater Berks Food Bank. All are encouraged to bring a canned good or non-perishable food item to the concert as a donation. For details or tickets, call 610-373-7557 or visit www.readingsymphony.org.
Concerts
Harrisburg: The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 5 at Metro Bank Stadium on City Island. The event is sponsored by Faulkner Honda, the Dauphin County Commissioners and the City of Harrisburg. Rain location will be Strawberry Square Atrium, Harrisburg. The concert will feature vintage World War II video footage projected onto the large scoreboard interspersed with the music. After the concert, the city's annual spectacular Independence Day Fireworks show will get underway at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Middletown: Bruce Springsteen tribute band Asbury Fever will headline a July 4 event at the Vineyard and Brewery at Hershey, 598 Schoolhouse Road, Middletown, from 1 to 9 p.m. A military-themed edition of the winery and brewery's Decked-Out Live! concert series, the day will feature several live bands, a massive silent auction and a presentation by the Pennsylvania National Guard's 131st Transportation Co. and special guests, who will honor local heroes. Admission is $20. Gates open at 11 a.m. Bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Lebanon: Join Maestro Stuart Malina and the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra in celebrating our country's independence during the 2014 Summer Concert Series with music for the whole family. The free concert will held at Lebanon Valley College on the Academic Quad at 8 p.m. July 3. In the event of rain, the concert will be held in the Lutz Hall of the Blair Music Center. This is the seventh consecutive year LVC has hosted the symphony for a free summer concert. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and blanket, and enjoy an evening of wonderful patriotic music under the stars. The HSO will perform “Fanfare for the Common Man,” “Raiders March and Hymn to the Fallen,” “ A George M. Cohan Salute,” “Victory at Sea Suite,” “Liberty Fanfare,” and “ Colonel Bogey March,” among other family favorites and patriotic classics. A 4th of July concert would not be complete without Berlin's “God Bless America,” “Stars & Stripes Forever,” and “Armed Forces Salute.” For details, visit www.HarrisburgSymphony.org.
Mercersburg: A carillon recital by Mercersburg Academy carillonneur and music professor James Brinson will begin at 3 p.m. in Irvine Memorial Chapel on the academy campus, East Seminary Street. Patriotic songs such as "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful" will be performed along with American folk songs such as "Cindy," "He's Gone Away," and "Blow the Man Down." Songs from the Civil War years such as "Lorena" and "Goober Peas" and American hymn tunes such as "Simple Gifts" and "Followers of the Lamb" will also be performed.
New Holland: Garden Spot Village, 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland, invites the public to celebrate the music of America when the Servant Stage Company presents “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” July 3 and 11. Both shows begin at 7 p.m. in the community chapel. The concert is a patriotic tribute to America's music, including Broadway and barbershop, standards and swing, gospel spirituals and more. Servant Stage Co. began as a group of professional performers and young music students who rehearsed at Garden Spot Village and performed for residents there. Today, they are a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the community with outstanding musical and theatrical performances, making the arts accessible to all. The concerts are free and open to the public. Donations to benefit Servant Stage Company will be accepted at the door. For details, call 717-355-6000 or visit www.gardenspotvillage.org/events/.
Festivities
York: As part of York's First Friday celebrations July 4, White Rose Bar & Grill, 48 N. Beaver St., will host live music from 5 to 9 p.m. to benefit Army Cpl. Matthew Hanes, a 2010 Northeastern High School graduate who was critically injured while serving in Afghanistan. Admission will be a suggested donation and all proceeds from food and beverage sales will go to the Hanes family. Hanes sustained a spinal cord injury which left him partially paralyzed. He had stem cell surgery in China and has long-term rehabilitation needs. York's First Friday is 5 to 9 p.m. July 4 in downtown York. The night will feature deals, entertainment, goodies and more. Parking is free at metered spots and in the Central Market Garage after 5 p.m. For details, visit downtownyorkpa.com.
Lebanon: Lebanon Lutheran Cooperative Ministry will host an Independence Day free picnic for veterans and others in our community who may not have a place to go on July 4.
The picnic will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church, 119 N. 8th Street, Lebanon. In case of rain, the picnic will be held in the Richwine Fellowship Hall at Salem Lutheran Church.
The event is sponsored by the Lebanon Conference through funds from the Lower Susquehanna Synod.
Mount Gretna: Mt. Gretna will hold its "Light Up for Liberty" weekend from July 3 to 5 featuring activities that include music, the Grand Illumination and activities for children. The Rehrersburg Band will perform at a free concert at 7 p.m. July 4 at the Mt. Gretna Playhouse, 200 Pennsylvania Ave. The Grand Illumination, in which borough residents decorate their homes in Fourth of July themes and illuminate them from inside, will take place at 9 p.m. July 3 and July 4 after the concert. A children's ice cream breakfast buffet will be held at 9:15 a.m. July 5 at the Hall of Philosophy. The cost is $5 a person. Registration by June 28 is required. To register, call 964-1830. Children's activities will also include a fairy garden parade at the Hall of Philosophy at 10 a.m. July 5. The New Black Eagle jazz band will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 5 at Mt. Gretna Playhouse. They will also perform at 11 a.m. July 6 at the playhouse.
Delta: Patriotic Salute Day will be held July 11, at the Mason-Dixon Fairgrounds, 6988 Delta Road, Delta. The fairground gates will open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a special day at the fair for our veterans and senior citizens. Admission to the early event is “free” to senior citizens, veterans, active service members and their family until 2 p.m. There will be cash bingo, cash food court, fair exhibits, karaoke and sing along music for all who attend this early event. Midway & rides will not be open for this early event. Admission will be Free Friday night for Veterans and Active Service Members with Military, VFW or American Legion ID. All other family members will be $6 (children 6 years old and younger are admitted free). Gates for the 16th annual Mason-Dixon Fair & Midway open at 5 p.m. For details on Patriotic Salute Day, call Lisa at 717-968-5839 or visit www.masondixonfair.com.
Harrisburg: The Historical Society of Dauphin County will host a festival and re-enactment July 4 at the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion, 219 S. Front St., Harrisburg. John Harris Jr. re-enactor David Biser will give public readings of the Declaration of Independence from the front porch of the mansion at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. State Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin County) will open the event with remarks at 10 a.m. and will read a story to children in the mansion. Tours of the Harris-Cameron mansion will be offered July 4 for $4, with free admission to children 6 and under as well as any police, fire or first responder personnel and their families.
Shippensburg: Fireworks & Fun in Veterans Memorial Park, Park Place, begins with free pool admission for all, from noon-6 p.m. (pool games begin at 2). The Town Band will perform a patriotic concert at 8, followed by a candy scramble for children in the football stadium; fireworks at dusk.
Waynesboro: Firecracker run opens the show, fireworks display closes the day's events. Jubilee takes place on the grounds across from Waynesboro Hospital at 501 E. Main St. Featured this year will be Jeremy Staubus Band from 4 to 6 p.m., and Dean Crawford and the Dunn's River Band, to perform two sets at 7 and 8:15 p.m. All entertainment is free. The Firecracker 5K Run at 8:30 a.m. is preceded by a children's one-mile fun run at 8 a.m. Food and craft vendors will line the grounds, doing business from 8 to 4. The parade will step off at 10:30, following a flag-raising ceremony at 9. The parade, sponsored by the Brother's of the Brush, will follow Main Street. Some hot competition includes a hot dog-eating contest (6:30 p.m.) and the annual money machine challenge (8 p.m.). Here's how it works: Tickets are sold and a name is drawn each hour between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Those whose names are chosen are allowed 30 seconds inside the money machine where, at the flick of a switch, $1,000 in cash blows around. Each person gets to keep whatever money he or she can catch. The annual fireworks display beginning at dusk will feature a tribute to our nation's military troops. A 60-second pause will follow the tribute prior to the display. For more information, entertainment schedule and a list of event sponsors, visit www.summerjubilee.org.
Church service
York: St. John Episcopal Church: 140 N. Beaver St., York, will celebrate Holy Communion using the 1789 Book of Common Prayer 10 a.m. July 4. During the service, a brass ensemble will provide patriotic music. At the conclusion of the service, the brass ensemble will also present a short concert of patriotic songs. The Liberty bell, located at the back of the church building, will be rung and as participants leave they are invited to ring the Liberty Bell. Light refreshments will follow the concert.
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