New Location for Fun Fourth Fireworks

The 37th annual Fun Fourth Festival will move its grand finale News & Record Pops Concert and Gate City Fireworks Spectacular to a new home at White Oak Amphitheatre at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex on Monday, July 4 from 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

“We are thrilled to be a part of one of the signature events in our community, the Fun Fourth Festival,” said Coliseum managing director Matt Brown. “It will be a memorable evening as this free, family-friendly event will be held for the first time in the beautiful setting of White Oak Amphitheatre. Betty Cone and the staff at Grassroots Productions always do a great job of producing this event and we look forward to it being a highlight of our amphitheatre calendar for years to come.”

White Oak Amphitheatre boasts 2,005 reserved seats and an overall capacity of 7,666. The public is welcome to bring blankets and cushions for lawn seating.  It is estimated that over 60,000 people will be able to view the fireworks within a 3-mile radius of the Coliseum Complex at 1921 West Lee Street.

The event and parking will continue to be free of charge with the support of Fun Fourth Festival sponsors including News & Record, City of Greensboro, Greensboro Coliseum Complex, WFMY News 2, Fairway Outdoor Advertising and other community organizations and businesses.

The News & Record Pops Concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. featuring the Greensboro Philharmonia Orchestra; the theme will be “Stars and Stripes Forever.”  Congressman Howard Coble will give a brief Independence Day Address during the ceremonies at 9:00 p.m.  The Orchestra will play the 1812 Overture as the lights go down in the parking lots.  The Gate City Fireworks Spectacular will brighten the skies from 9:30 – 10:00 p.m.

The Fun Fourth Festival is produced by Grassroots Productions Limited. This local non-profit organization focuses on charitable and educational activities which foster interest in local history and events in Guilford County. More than 100 businesses and the City of Greensboro help sponsor the events. Over 12,000 volunteer hours of assistance are also donated.  An advisory board of local business and civic leaders oversees the planning of each event.

The Fun Fourth Festival has been recognized as a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society and as an Outstanding Event by Celebration NC Foundation.

Details:

Monday, July 4
News & Record Pops Concert and Gate City Fireworks Spectacular
NEW LOCATION: White Oak Amphitheatre at Greensboro Coliseum Complex
•    Gates open 5:30 p.m.
•    News & Record Pops Concert w/ Greensboro Philharmonia Orchestra 7:30 – 8:45 p.m.
•    Independence Day Ceremonies 8:50 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
•    Gate City Fireworks Spectacular 9:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
•    Admission and parking free; no pets, please.
•    Tailgating allowed in parking lot.
•    Food & beverage vendors adjacent to Amphitheatre
•    Blankets and Cushions allowed on lawn
•    No lawn chairs, outside food and beverages in White Oak Amphitheatre.
•    Rain date Tuesday, July 5.
•    Follow cancellation and weather delays via Twitter @Fun4thGSO

Please visit www.FunFourthFestival.org for more information

Madness

Spring, in my opinion, is by far the best season.  The weather isn’t too hot, the flowers are blooming, and during the month of March you can’t turn on your TV without hearing about basketball.  It is hard for me to imagine a North Carolinian who doesn’t go nuts for the ACC tournament this time of year.  Even if you didn’t go to one of the four ACC schools in our state, you probably still pull for one.  Being a Tar heel myself, I find no greater joy than the highs and lows that tournament season brings.   One of the best things about college basketball is how close we in Greensboro are able to come to it.  Not only are we geographically in the middle of the four ACC schools, but this year the tournament is being held right here at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.  This weekend, go see a game!  If you haven’t picked a side yet, do it!  (I recommend the Carolina blue of course)  Enjoy the fact that some of the deepest seeded rivalries in the history of college sports are being celebrated right here in your neighborhood.  And if you can’t make it to a game, enjoy a cold drink at one of the fabulous bars downtown.  I promise you they will be showing the madness that is March.