2015 Fun 4th Recap

Well, another Fun 4th Festival has come and gone and it was one for the books!  I heard from multiple people that this was their favorite year yet and I couldn't agree more.  We had perfect weather, great music, tasty food and it made for a wonderful day.  Every year, I recap my favorite Fun 4th moments, so here are my top five from 2015!

1.  The Tiny House

I was going to say that these are in no particular order, but the Tiny House really was my number one favorite thing this year.  It was so cool to see one of these houses in person and take a tour.  Plus, they have an awesome mission which you can read about here: Tiny House Greensboro.


2.  Rides!!!

I never get a chance to go on any of the rides, so I made a promise to change that this year.  I rode this giant slide, ran through an obstacle course, and won a little pink dog playing darts.  I also met a lot of really cute kids in line for the Jurassic bounce house.  It was all pretty awesome.







3.  Troopers in the rain.

The night of the Block Party a huge rain storm was looming over us the entire time.  Despite that, tons of people came out and stuck with us through the bad weather.  People danced in the rain or pulled out umbrellas and just kept having a good time.  The Part Time Party Time Band jammed through the whole thing.  Thanks for hanging in there with us!

4.  Babies on the beach.

New for 2015, we brought the beach to Fun 4th!  To be honest, I was a bit of a skeptic when I heard we were bringing in dump trucks full of sand, but it turned out to be a great addition to the festival.  The kids playing in the sand with beach balls were adorable.







5.  All new spectacular fireworks.

We upped our fireworks game this year and they didn't disappoint.  I got to watch them from the top of the Greene Street parking deck and even from a distance they were fabulous.  Reports from the amphitheater were that the new show was super cool and I'm jealous I couldn't be there in person.  The pictures don't do them justice!






You can view all of the pictures from this year's Fun 4th on our Flickr page here.  If you took any pictures you'd like to share, send them our way!  We'd love to see them.

The 41st Annual Fun Fourth Festival Announces Full Schedule

NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Aislinn Spain, Operations Assistant

administration@grassrootsproductionsltd.org

336.274.4595

Media contact for festival July 3-4, 2015

Debbie Fuchs

336.509.0743 – cell and text

www.funfourthfestival.org

Facebook:  facebook.com/Fun4thGSO

Twitter: @Fun4thGSO

Media Information and 2015 Artwork

THE 41^st ANNUAL FUN FOURTH FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FULL SCHEDULE

GREENSBORO, N.C. – June 25, 2015 - The 41^st annual Fun Fourth Festival will continue the tradition of patriotic celebrations in Downtown Greensboro this Fourth of July.  The Festival will be held in the Downtown Historic District and Hamburger Square Park.  More than 90,000 people are expected to enjoy this community event commemorating America’s freedom.

Highlights include the Freedom Run & Walk, the Kickoff Block Party, the Independence Day Parade and Street Festival.  The closing event is the News & Record Pops Concert and the Fun Fourth Fireworks Finale at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.  More than 100 businesses and the City of Greensboro help sponsor the events. More than 12,000 volunteer hours of assistance will be donated.

Festivities begin at 8 a.m. on Sat., June 27 with the Freedom Run in Downtown Greensboro.  Participants run or walk in honor of our dedicated military personnel & veterans. It includes the Fun Fourth 10K, a 2-mile Fun Run and Walk and the Tot Trot.  The scenic courses go through historic residential areas and Fisher Park. The event is open to all ages.

The Start/Finish Line and Award Ceremonies will be staged beside the Downtown Greensboro Marriott at 301 N. Greene St. Applications are available to download at www.funfourthfestival.org or participants may register at the race site between 6:30 – 7:30 a.m. on June 27.

The Festival week comes into full swing with the Fun 4^th Festival Kickoff Block Party from 7-11 p.m. on Fri., July 3 in the Carolina Theatre parking lot, 310 S. Greene St.  Gates will open at 6:30 p.m.  The evening’s musical entertainment will be beach music performed by Part Time Party Time Band.  Admission is $5.  Free parking will be available in city parking garages and area surface lots.  Gate City Trolley will provide free trolley rides along Elm Street and to the Carolina Theatre.

The Independence Day Parade at the Fun Fourth Festival will start at 9:30 a.m. Sat., July 4. The Parade heralds a day full of free fun as it winds through Downtown Greensboro, beginning at N. Greene and Lindsay Streets, traveling south on Greene, west on Washington and disbanding north on Eugene.

The daylong Fun Fourth Street Festival begins at 10:00 a.m. in the Downtown historic district surrounding the Carolina Theatre. Festivities include five stages of live music, a variety of foods, arts and crafts exhibitors, children's activities, amusements and rides and heritage exhibits.

The music stages will have something for everyone - rock, urban, gospel, bluegrass, R&B and folk music - and will showcase both local talent and national acts.  Other musical favorites include the power country group GalFriday Band and national folk duo Shook Twins.  In the Elm/McGee parking lot, festival goers will be able to show off their musical talents at a karaoke stage.

Independence Day will end with an exciting event on Friday evening at White Oak Amphitheatre at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex with the News & Record Pops Concert and Fun Fourth Fireworks Finale. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. for parking and tailgating and at 6:30 p.m. for seating in the Amphitheatre.

The News & Record Pops Concert featuring The Philharmonia of Greensboro will begin at 7:30 p.m.; the Fireworks Finale will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.  All parking is free. 

Cushions and blankets may be used on the lawn seating in the Amphitheatre, but no personal chairs are allowed.  Lawn chairs are available to rent at $5 per chair just inside the amphitheatre entry gates.  Food and beverage vendors will be accessible in the amphitheatre and to those viewing from the parking lots. 

Other optimum viewing areas for the fireworks are lots along Patterson Avenue and High Point Road between the Coliseum and Florida Street and on Lee Street near UNCG.  Follow cancellation and weather delays via Twitter @Fun4thGSO.

For the safety and enjoyment of everyone, no pets, bicycles, skates, skateboards or coolers are allowed at any Fun Fourth Festival event, including the concert in the Amphitheatre.

Full schedule of events and musical groups at www.funfourthfestival.org

Festival schedule at a glance:

Saturday, June 27

Freedom Run & Walk

8 a.m.

Greensboro Marriott Downtown, 301 N. Greene St.

Fun Fourth 10K and 2-Mile Fun Run & Walk

Pre-registration and fees online: www.funfourthfestival.org

Children’s races at 9:15 a.m.; no registration required

Friday, July 3

Fun 4^th Festival Kickoff Block Party

7-11 p.m.

Carolina Theatre parking lot, 310 S. Greene St.

Beach music by Part Time Party Time Band

Admission: $5

Saturday, July 4

Independence Day Parade at Fun Fourth Festival

9:30 a.m.

Parade route:  Begins at Greene & Lindsay Street, travels south on Greene, west on Washington, disbanding north on Eugene.

Register online at www.funfourthfestival.org/parade

Saturday, July 4

Fun Fourth Street Festival

Downtown Greensboro Historic District & Hamburger Square Park

10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Admission and parking free.

Saturday, July 4

News & Record Pops Concert and Fun Fourth Fireworks Finale

White Oak Amphitheatre at Greensboro Coliseum

7:30-10 p.m.

Gates open for Parking & Tailgating at 5:30 p.m.

Gates open to seating in Amphitheatre at 6:30 p.m.

News & Record Pops Concert at 7:30 p.m.

Independence Day Ceremonies at 8:50 p.m.

Patriotic Music and Fireworks Finale at 9:30 p.m., weather permitting

-Admission and parking free; no pets, please.

-Tailgating allowed in parking lot only

-Blankets and cushions allowed on lawn seating in Amphitheatre

-No lawn chairs, outside food and beverages in White Oak Amphitheatre.

-Rain date Sunday, July 5.

-Follow cancellation and weather delays via Twitter @Fun4thGSO

For more information about the Fun Fourth Festival, please visit www.funfourthfestival.org, www.facebook.com/Fun4thGSO, follow on Twitter @Fun4thGSO, or call 336.274.4595.

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Fun Fourth Festival Announces 2015 Entertainment Line Up

Grassroots Productions Limited, Inc.

P.O. Box 29212

Greensboro, N.C. 27429

NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Aislinn Spain, Operations Assistant

administration@grassrootsproductionsltd.org

336.274.4595

www.funfourthfestival.org

Facebook:  facebook.com/Fun4thGSO

Twitter: @Fun4thGSO

2015 Fun Fourth Festival Artwork

FUN FOURTH FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2015 ENTERTAINMENT LINE UP

GREENSBORO, N.C. – June 22, 2015 - The 41^st annual Fun Fourth Festival will be held on Sat., July 4 from 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. in the Historic District of downtown Greensboro.  Festival organizers are excited to announce the line up for five stages of live entertainment.

Pepsi/98.7 Simon Stage

10:15-11:30 a.m. – Eyes Eat Suns (Alternative)

Noon-1:15 p.m. – SkyBlew (Hip Hop)

1:45-3 p.m. – AM r0de0

3:30-4:45 p.m. – Shook Twins (Folk)

5:15-6:30 p.m. – Dirt Road Senate (Rock)

Located at the intersection of Elm and Smothers.

WFMY News 2/CPI Security Stage

10:30-11:45 a.m. – Citizen Shade (Soul Pop)

12:15-1:30 p.m. – The Broken Parts (Alt. Rock)

2-3:15 p.m. – Soul Central with Jaybird (R&B)

3:45-5 p.m. – GalFriday Band (Country)

5:30-6:30 p.m. – Look Homeward (Folk)

Located in the Carolina Theatre parking lot.

Piedmont Natural Gas Stage

10-11:15 a.m. – Street Feat Allstars (Cover)

11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. – Gasoline Stove (Americana)

1:30-2:45 p.m. – the Collection (Indie Rock)

3:15-4:30 p.m. – The Emily Musolino Band (Blues)

5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. – Drake Murphy (Pop)

Located at the intersection of Elm and February One.

WNAA-FM and Mt. Zion Baptist Church presents the 2015 Fun 4^th Gospel Stage

10:30a.m.-6:30p.m. – Gospel Extravaganza

Located at Governmental Plaza.

Cemala Foundation Stage

10:00-10:30 a.m. – Drum Circle

10:30-11 a.m. – Mr. Nigel

11-11:30 a.m. – Drum Circle

11:30 a.m.-Noon – Mr. Nigel

Noon-12:30 p.m. – Drum Circle

12:30-1 p.m. – No Limit Dancers

1:30-6:30 p.m. – Karaoke

In the Elm/McGee parking lot: The Scrap Exchange Junk Jam, Tyca the Clown

Located in the Elm/McGee parking lot.

Plus, The Swamp Nots, The Gate City Jazz Band, Bob Wilusz Patriotic Accordion, High Lonesome Strings, 2^nd NC Regiment of the Continental Line and more!

Entertainment for the Fun Fourth Festival is made possible through generous sponsorship given by 98.7 Simon, WFMY News 2, Pepsi, WNAA-FM, Piedmont Natural Gas, Cemala Foundation, CPI Security and Carey Sound.

For more information about the Fun Fourth Festival, applications and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.funfourthfestival.org, www.facebook.com/Fun4thGSO, follow on Twitter @Fun4thGSO, or call 336.274.4595.

###

Fun Fourth Festival Fireworks Finale Announced

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Aislinn Spain, Operations Assistant

administration@grassrootsproductionsltd.org

336.274.4595

www.funfourthfestival.org

Facebook:  facebook.com/Fun4thGSO

Twitter: @Fun4thGSO

FUN FOURTH FESTIVAL FIREWORKS FINALE ANNOUNCED

GREENSBORO, N.C. –  June 16, 2015 – This year’s Fun Fourth Festival will host the News & Record Pops Concert and Fun Fourth Fireworks Finale from 7:30-10 p.m. Sat., July 4 at White Oak Amphitheatre at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.  Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.

The News & Record Pops Concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. featuring The Greensboro Concert Band playing patriotic pops.  The band will play the “1812 Overture” as the lights go down in the parking lots at 9:20 p.m.  The Fun Fourth Fireworks Finale will brighten the skies from 9:30 – 10:00 p.m.  Spectacular displays will include hundreds of colorful aerial shells, as well as an exciting display of vertical horsetails, colorful comets and pattern shells – new for 2015!

White Oak Amphitheatre boasts 2,005 reserved seats and an overall capacity of 7,666 including lawn seating. For those interested in viewing the fireworks from outside the Coliseum Complex, optimum locations are the Coliseum parking lot, lots along Patterson Avenue and High Point Road between the Coliseum and Florida Street and lots along Lee Street near UNCG.

The event is free of charge thanks to the support of Fun Fourth sponsors including News & Record, City of Greensboro, Greensboro Coliseum Complex, WFMY News 2, Fairway Outdoor Advertising and other community organizations and businesses.  Parking in the Coliseum Complex parking lots will also be free.

Tailgating will be allowed in the Coliseum Complex parking lots.  No outside food or beverages will be allowed inside the Amphitheatre.  Blankets and cushions may be brought into the amphitheatre, but no chairs are allowed.  Lawn chairs are available for rental at $5 per chair and may be rented just inside the entry gates of the White Oak Amphitheatre.  Pets are prohibited at all Fun Fourth Festival events.

In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks will be rescheduled for Sun., July 5, 9:30 p.m. at the same location. Weather related delays are possible. Weather updates, including delays and cancellations, will be made on Twitter via @Fun4thGSO

For more information about the Fun Fourth Festival, please visit www.funfourthfestival.org, www.facebook.com/Fun4thGSO, follow on Twitter @Fun4thGSO, or call 336.274.4595.

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Aislinn Spain's 5th Anniversary

High 5 on the 4th in 2012.

I'm feeling a little nostalgic today.  Is #MemoryMonday a thing yet?  If it isn't, I'm making it a thing now.  Every year when we start a new summer season at Grassroots, it's like a fresh slate.  A new year with new classes, new music, new movies, new fun.  But it also brings up a lot of memories.  "Remember last year when..." is a pretty common phrase this time of year as we all look back and think about what we've done before and how we can do things bigger and better this time around.

Cheering on runners at the Freedom Run in 2014.

I realized today that this Fun 4th is going to be my 5th one.  I know this is a small number to many of the awesome people who make Fun 4th possible, some of whom are headed toward their 50th Fun 4th anniversary.  But to me 5 years is a big one.  This started as a simple summer job that was only supposed to last 4 months.  It has turned into over 4 years.  Fun 4th has become as much a part of my life as high school or college were.  It has become it's own era.  It's own chapter in the tell-all I will write when I become a celebrity.

Bring Your Friends and Get in the Picture in 2011.

It hasn't been without challenges.  Most of the best things are that way.  For many years, Fun 4th and I had a love/hate relationship that was more hate than love.  The long hours, the heat, the never having July 4th free to go to the beach, can be brutal.  But as time goes on the stories are told with less resentment and more pride.  The long days become less exhausting and more thrilling.  And over time, this festival has become something that I can't imagine my life without.


I get asked a lot, "How has Fun 4th been going on for so long?" or "Why are all these people still doing this?"  Honestly, I don't really know.  I haven't been around long enough to know and I can't speak for the majority of the people that have kept this thing going.  But, I can speculate that what

Eating all of these donuts in 2013.

keeps everyone coming back is some version of what has kept me going all of these years.  I will never forget my first Fun 4th, looking out into a crowd of hundreds of snare drummers, vibrating with anticipation, ready to attempt breaking a world record.  I know it was hot and loud and I hadn't slept in what felt like days.  I don't remember any of that though.  I remember being happy and excited and alive.  And once you feel that it's a hard thing to let go of.

Of course, all of this applies to you too!  I'm sure all of you can remember your 1st, or 5th, or 20th Fun 4th.  Maybe it was the year your first child was born.  Maybe it was the first year you lived in Greensboro.  Maybe it was the first time your family had ever seen fireworks.  I bet if you think about it hard enough, you can get pulled right back to that time and you will have a happy heart thinking about who you were then and what your life was like and what Fun 4th has meant to you all these years.

For me, my 1st Fun 4th was a time when everything was different.  I had a new husband, was living in a new town, was starting my first real job.  I was both excited and scared.  Everything was decided and everything was unsure all at once.  And I was standing on a stage, hoping not to get stampeded

Dancing at the Block Party in 2014.

by 800 anxious drummers, wondering if there was anything better than this.

Last year I asked you guys to come out and celebrate Fun 4th's 40th anniversary.  I honestly feel like it was one of the best years yet and it wouldn't have happened at all if we hadn't been able to share it with all of you.  This year, I would love if every single one of you came to Fun 4th and shared my 5th anniversary with me.  It's no 40, that's for sure, but I will be celebrating none the less.  If you've never been to Fun 4th, even better.  Come make your first Fun 4th memory this year.  I promise it will be something you'll never forget!