Chattanooga Is Home

New to the area, Susan asked where to see fireworks on July 4th. And this is where I admit, that in the eight years that I have called Chattanooga home, I have only been in the Chattanooga area once over the 4th of July holiday.

Every year our family heads to Lake Martin, Alabama to spend the time with my husband’s family. The 4th is almost bigger than Christmas in the hierarchy of family get togethers. I think my mother-in-law gets more upset when we can’t come for the fourth than she does when we tell her we are going elsewhere for Christmas.

But there was that one year where the 4th of July fell on a Wednesday and I couldn’t get the time off on the days surrounding. So we stayed here in Chattanooga and experienced the festivities here.

We took a picnic dinner to Coolidge Park and listened to Pops on the River, followed by fireworks. We went with a bunch of friends and played Frisbee on the greenspace while we waited for it all to begin or it got too crowded to safely throw the Frisbee. I remember being slightly disappointed by the fireworks display, but that is because I still think the Riverbend fireworks are the best ever.

This year we will be heading to Lake Martin on Sunday. So, no Chattanooga celebration for us. But, if you want to capture some of that festive spirit, you can head over to Coolidge Park on Tuesday, July 3rd. Pops on the River will begin around 8 pm:

The CSO, directed by Robert Bernhardt, will present a program featuring patriotic pieces from Sousa’s Stars and Stripes to John Williams’ Hymn to the Fallen. Other favorites including selections from West Side Story, Georgia on my Mind, Rocky Top and a special sing-a-long section titled “Sing Out, America!” will also be included in the performance. A presentation of colors will be made by the Chattanooga Fire Department’s Color Guard.

The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy a picnic during this concert and fireworks display. Food, beer, wine and non-alcoholic drink concessions will be available on site. A rain date for the concert is scheduled for July 4th.

If listening to patriotic music isn’t your game, then Tuesday evening head over to BellSouth Park to see the Lookouts play the Carolina Mudcats (special game start time is 6:15 pm). There will be fireworks following the game as well.

Which is a bit confusing to me. Both the city and the Lookouts will be holding fireworks displays on July 3rd. It will be interesting to see if they are in it together to make it a bigger display, or if there will be one presentation and then a second presentation. Regardless, it looks like downtown Chattanooga will be lit with fireworks on July 3rd.

That leaves lots of room for local groups to gather on July 4th for other celebrations. If you know of any that Susan could check out, then please leave a comment and let us all know.

And have a safe and happy Fourth of July!

[tags]Chattanooga, Chattanooga fireworks, July 4th Chattanooga, Pops on the River, Chattanooga Lookouts[/tags]