MOORESVILLE – More than 20,000 people are expected to gather at the Lowe’s YMCA in Mooresville for fireworks and family fun on Tuesday, July 3, from 4 to 10 p.m. The event is the largest Independence Day celebration in the Lake Norman area, and is free and open to the entire community. ALSO BELOW: More 2012 Independence Day activities …
The YMCA’s Summer Celebration is presented by Randy Marion Automotive and will feature music, live performances, food and business vendors, inflatables, and kids games, and will end with a huge fireworks display. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to get a good view of the show.
In addition to the fun and fireworks, the Summer Celebration helps the Y impact the Mooresville community – proceeds will help the Y build a healthier community, improve children’s literacy skills in Y Readers, and provide cancer survivors with free wellness classes through the LIVESTRONG program.
“As the event has grown over the years, it has become a cornerstone event for Mooresville/Lake Norman region and even Charlotte,” Lowe’s YMCA Executive Director Ron Johnston said in a statement. “It is also one of the key ways the community can help us strengthen and develop children and families through the programs we offer.”
For more information, please visit www.ymcacharlotte.org/july3.
The Lowe’s YMCA branch will close on July 3 at noon. At that time, the building and parking lot will be closed to the general public. However, the Y is offering VIP parking for $50 per car. Those who purchase one of the available parking passes will have reserved parking in the Lowe’s YMCA lot. Guests who purchase the pass can arrive at any time to access their parking spots. However, cars will not be able to re-enter the parking lot after exiting.
For reserved parking, please contact Bart Cape at 704-716-4004 or bart.cape@ymcacharlotte.org.
In the event of inclement weather, the event will not be rescheduled. For more information, visit ymcacharlotte.org.
WHITEWATER CENTER FESTIVAL
CHARLOTTE – The U.S. National Whitewater Center, 820 Hawfield Road, Charlotte, plans a 2-day festival with live music and fireworks. The event is free and open to the public.
Music begins at 4 p.m. each day. The lineup is as follows:
Tuesday, July 3
4 p.m.: Sol Driven Train
6 p.m.: Eric Lindell
8 p.m.: Tab Benoit
Wednesday, July 4
4 p.m.: Have Gun, Will Travel
6 p.m.: Moreland & Arbuckle
8 p.m.: These United States
The center is offering a limited number of VIP Passes for $75, with which you can experience the festival from the River Center Terrace. The terrace offers the best views of the live music and fireworks. Dinner and access to a private bar and restroom is also included. Click here for more information http://usnwc.org
BASEBALL AND FIREWORKS
KANNAPOLIS – The Kannapolis Intimidators, Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, will light up the sky July 4 with an Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular following the 7:05 p.m. game against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at CMC-NorthEast Stadium. Fans are encouraged to wear their red, white and blue to the game.
Gates open at 6 p.m. Reserved-level seats are available for $8 and General Admission tickets are $6 when purchased in advance. Tickets can be purchased by calling the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or by visiting the team’s website at IntimidatorsBaseball.com.
Not only does the team promise a spectacular fireworks display, it also is promising a win – if the Intimidators on Wednesday don’t defeat the Grasshoppers, who are 5-1 against Kannapolis this season, all fans who attend the game can redeem their ticket stubs at the stadium box office for a reserved-level ticket for only $2 to the Intimidators game on Friday, July 6, at 7:05 p.m.
Last season, the Intimidators drew a crowd of 5,432 fans to the Independence Weekend Fireworks Spectacular, so fans are advised to purchase tickets in advance. For ticket information, call the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or visit www.IntimidatorsBaseball.com.
JULY 4 SPECTACULAR AT MEMORIAL STADIUM
CHARLOTTE - The Presbyterian Hospital July 4th Spectacular is a family-friendly, alcohol-free event celebrating Independence Day in Uptown Charlotte. It boasts Charlotte’s largest fireworks display starting at 9:30 p.m. at the stadium, 310 North Kings Drive, as well as family-fun activities beforehand from 6 to 9 p.m. gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Activities include a club house moon bounce, rat race, a 22’ super slide, as well as a 3-legged race, sack race, tug-o-war, mascot race and a History tent with President memory games, puzzles, coloring sheets and a marble guessing game. Also, there will be a contest for the best dressed Uncle Sam, with prizes.
Due to construction, there will be limited stadium seating available in the first section of the stands only. The lawn will accommodate a maximum capacity of 5,000 people in the in-field. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and claim a spot on the field grass for the fireworks show. Once the stadium reaches maximum capacity, attendees will be asked to watch the fireworks at Independence Park, located adjacent to Memorial Stadium.
Guests are asked to leave coolers and pre-packaged food at home. There will be food and beverages available on-site for purchase.
The fireworks show will be approximately 20 minutes long, and begins at 9:30 p.m. (weather and fire department clearance permitting). The show will be synched to a music track that will be heard exclusively and played live at all viewing venues. The show can be viewed from a variety of locations around the city. If you are in the eastern part of the city and you can see the skyline, chances are, you can see the fireworks display.
There is ample parking around Memorial Stadium and Central Piedmont Community College, but on-street parking will be restricted to keep traffic lanes open as fireworks viewers drive in and out of the city. Parking in the Elizabeth neighborhood is also restricted. Towing will be enforced in areas where parking is restricted. Visit www.findyourcenter.com for all the best citywide viewing spots
BIRKDALE JULY 4TH PARADE AND CELEBRATION
HUNTERSVILLE - Enjoy a July 4th celebration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, complete with bike decorating, arts and crafts, face painting, a bounce house and more. At 11:45 a.m., line up to for the parade, which begins at noon outside Banana Republic. Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain will give awards for best decorated bike, and at 12:15 p.m. watch a Fire Department water fight.
Birkdale Commons Parkway will be closed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday for the celebration.
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER POOL PARTY
CHARLOTTE – Start the 4th of July fun before dark, with a pool party at the Levine Jewish Community Center, at the Outdoor Aquatics Complex, on the grounds at 5007 providence Road in South Charlotte.
The party runs from noon to 3 p.m. and will include a DJ, games and contests, pool activities and arts and crafts.
SHRINERS 4TH OF JULY PARADE
CHARLOTTE – Shriners International, the philanthropic organization behind Shriners Hospitals for Children, will march in Uptown Charlotte at 2:30 p.m. July 4. The parade will include marching bands and clowns, as well as members of the international fraternity.
MORE EVENTS THIS WEEK
See more events in the area this week in our This Week calendar, in THE GUIDE»
See a photo gallery from Davidson’s July 1st small-town parade and Concert on the Green.
