Story by Ava Chuppe
Contributing writer
am.chuppe@gmail.com
This Independence Day, various celebrations will happen throughout the local area. The most prominent of these is the FNB Bank Freedom Fest parade, which takes place in Murray each year.
According to the Murray Convention and Visitors Bureau, the parade will begin marching down Main Street at 9:30 a.m., on July 4. The evening hours will include activities for children at The Murray Bank Family Night in the Park, including vendors, inflatables and a free concert.
Murray State’s own Lovett Auditorium will host its free Freedom Fest concert at 8:00 p.m. Freedom Fest will end with its traditional Briggs & Stratton/The Murray Bank Fireworks Extravaganza at 9:30 p.m. For a full Freedom Fest schedule, visit https://www.explorekentuckylake.com/lakesarea/events/freedomfest.htm.
Accompanying this celebration is the Murray-Calloway Co. Parks Pool and Spray Park, which is allowing locals to swim and play for free on July 4. More information about this event can be found at https://https:/allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=200017549552712/.
Another pool party will be held at the Murray Country Club on July 6. The party will include a barbecue dinner, live music and fireworks, and the cost is $25 for adults and $10 for children under 16. For information about sign-up sheets, go to https://https:/allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=200017549552712/.
For an Independence Day evening by the lake, fireworks will be held at the Moors Resort & Marina on July 3 from 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Lake Barkley State Resort Park will present its fireworks show on July 4, complete with food vendors and glow-in-the-dark items for sale. Both fireworks shows are free.
The Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tennessee, will be hosting its free fireworks show on July 4. After 5:00 p.m., the ground will be open to the public for free, complete with bounce houses, food vendors, and live music. Fireworks will begin at dusk.
Happy Fourth of July!