From staff reports

news@joplinglobe.com

Country artist Lee Brice will headline Freedom Fest, Joplin’s Fourth of July celebration, on Saturday at Landreth Park.

The celebration opens at 4 p.m. with free inflatable bounces for children, along with games, prizes and food. Music will also start at 4 p.m. with performances by local bands Seven Times Hotter, Felonious Monk, Rukas and Duke Mason.

Brice is a singer-songwriter whose style combines honky-tonk and rock ’n’ roll. He will take the stage at 8:25 p.m. His songs include “She Ain’t Right,” “Upper Middle Class White Trash” and “Happy Endings.” He wrote the hit “More Than a Memory,” which was performed by Garth Brooks.

Fireworks will light the sky beginning at about 9:45 p.m., choreographed to a music soundtrack that will be broadcast on KBZI rock station 107.1.

Those attending may bring chairs and blankets for seating and coolers; however, alcohol, fireworks, barbecues and fires are not allowed.

A shuttle will be available from 7 to 11 p.m. to transport those who park at Memorial Hall. Parents must provide car seats for children 4 and younger.

The event is free, with the costs paid or activities provided by Hardee’s, US Cellular, Quapaw Casino and the city of Joplin.

Holiday celebrations are also planned in other area communities.

• ROCKY COMFORT, Mo. — A Fourth of July celebration is slated Saturday in Rocky Comfort.

Activities will begin at 7 p.m. at the Rocky Comfort ball field. A concession stand will be available. Those attending are to bring lawn chairs for seating.

No outside fireworks will be allowed in the ball field area.

The event is sponsored by Chapel of the Ozarks youth group.



• SENECA, Mo. — Festivities begin bright and early Saturday with a 5K Run starting at 7 a.m. at Seneca Junior High School.

Fishing opens at 7 a.m. at the Seneca City Park and lasts until 4 p.m.

There will be a parade at 10 a.m.; kids games in the junior-high gym from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; a duck race in Big Lost Creek with a chance to win $500 or a trip to Las Vegas at 11 a.m.; a “Four State Idol” contest in the high-school gym from 2 to 5 p.m.

At 5 p.m., the gates open at Route U and Bethel Road for the main event: music, kids inflatables, vendors and fireworks at dark. Performers will include Third Degree Burn, Brent Baker Band, Ben Miller Band and The Believers.

Music for the fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. can be heard live or on KBTN radio.

There is a $5 parking fee at the show that goes toward next year’s show. The celebration is put on by the Seneca Chamber of Commerce.

Details: (417) 776-2100 or www.senecamochamber.com.



• SHELL KNOB, Mo. — The 34th annual Shell Knob Fire and Thunder fireworks display, sponsored by the Shell Knob Chamber of Commerce, will begin at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

The fireworks display will be held about one mile east of the Shell Knob bridge. The fireworks can be viewed from land or water. Those who view the fireworks from the water need to have at least their anchor light on. State statues prohibit fireworks being shot from, or at, a boat.

In the event of inclement weather, the rain date will be Sunday. Radio stations will broadcast cancellation information.

Details: (417) 858-3300 or www.shellknob.com.



• POWELL, Mo. — The Powell Historical Preservation Society will hold its second annual July 4 celebration at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Brumley Music Company in Powell.

Live music will be provided by Baled Green and Wired Tight and Canaan Bound.

Hot dogs, nachos, soft pretzels and watermelon will be served. Games include horseshoes, volleyball and badminton. There will also be a special children’s play section.

The festivities include a hayride to see the Historic Powell Bridge over Big Sugar Creek. A fireworks show will begin at twilight.

Admission and parking are free. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket for seating.

All proceeds from the event will go toward the rehab of the Historic Powell Bridge.

Details: (417) 435-2394 or (417) 435-2214.



• BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. — The Community Independence Day Celebration will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in Kiwanis Park.

Hot dogs and watermelon will be served and there will be an ice-cream social. A country band will provide entertainment. There also will be inflatables for children and drawings for prizes. The fireworks will begin around 9:30 p.m.

There will be no admission charge.

The schedule will include:

5:30 p.m. — Picnic, ice cream social, snow cones, watermelon, Children’s Miracle Network 50/50 bingo, children’s inflatable playground.

7 to 8 p.m.— The Duling Family Country Music Show.

8 to 8:30 p.m. — Intermission and door prize drawings.

8:30 to 9:30 p.m. — Country music show resumes.

9:30 p.m. — Fireworks display.

Those attending are to bring lawn chairs. No pets and no personal fireworks are allowed.



• PITTSBURG, Kan. — Three days of events start today for the Pittsburg Fourth of July Celebration.

Arts and crafts booths, food vendors, contests and music kick off at 5 p.m. at Lincoln Park.

Activities will resume Saturday morning with a 5K run, tennis tournament, fishing derby, bicycle ride, car and motorcycle show, disc golf, horseshoe and bocce tournaments.

Radio-controlled airplanes and helicopters will be demonstrated from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Municipal Airport. The Red, White and Blue Parade will take place at 1 p.m. starting at 10th and Georgia streets. The aquatic park will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. for a free swim.

Other afternoon events include a dog show, kids festival and sing-off contest.

A hot-air balloon glow at 8:30 p.m. over Stice Ball Field will precede the fireworks display at 10 p.m.

The holiday weekend wraps up with a golf tournament at 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

Details: www.pittks.org.



• GROVE, Okla. — A Cajun festival featuring Chris Miller and the Bayou Roots, Jana Jae and Hotwire will highlight Fourth of July activities in Grove.

The festival will feature country, western swing and Cajun music.

The program will take place at the Grove Civic Center. The doors open at 9 a.m. and the music starts at 10 am. There will be arts and crafts, music, dancing and Cajun food.

Admission is free.

Details: (918) 786-8896 or www.grandlakefestivals.com.