Thursday, Jul. 02, 2009

Celebrate the Fourth: Your guide to fireworks above the skies of the metro-east

Metro-east residents are set to celebrate the nation's 233rd birthday this weekend with an explosion of concerts, picnics, sports tourneys and, of course, fireworks.

Among those leading the red-white-and-blue charge will be the city of Columbia, which will mark its 150th anniversary with a three-day birthday bash filled with concerts, rides, food and games. And two other American treasures -- baseball and the Budweiser Clydesdales -- will add sizzle to Valmeyer's 100th birthday party during its Midsummer Celebration.

Here, in alphabetical order, are more than a dozen places to have a blast this Independence Day weekend:

Alton -- If you think the think the new Clark Bridge is a work of art by day, you ought to see it lit up by the reds, greens and blues from fireworks going off over the river. You'll get your chance during Fireworks on the Mississippi at 9 p.m. Friday in Riverfront Park to highlight a night of food and music that starts at 5:30 p.m.. After the pyrotechnics, stick around for another blast when 4&20, the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young tribute band, performs until 11:30 p.m.

Columbia -- This town is sure to light your fuse as it toasts its 150th birthday with a three-day extravaganza filled with rides, foods, music and games. A Beatles tribute from Where's Charlie will get things rolling at 7 p.m. Friday night before Father Jack has you shaking a leg both before and after Saturday night's fireworks display.

Also on tap on Saturday: washers and kloepper tournaments along with music all afternoon by Two Grumpy Old Men and the Belleville Community Band. It's all at the American Legion Memorial Park at 375 E. Locust, and you can buy discounted ride tickets now at Ron's Pharmacy or the Market Place.

Then, on Sunday, the action moves to Metter Park for a festive day of music by Morland Drive, the Saengerbund German Singers and Michael Lacey's New Orleans Swing from 3-8 p.m. Just bring a chair.

Dupo -- The sparks will fly in Dupo Saturday night when fireworks help cap a day of activities in the community park. Starting at noon, revelers will find food, games and rides along with a washer tournament at 3:30. The band lineup boasts the reunion of Allies from 3 to 5:30 p.m. followed by the Big Boss Blues Band from 7 p.m. to whenever.

East St. Louis -- The saints will come marching into East St. Louis Friday night for the city's second annual star-spangled spectacular to celebrate the Fourth.

Collinsville Avenue will turn into Bourbon Street Friday night to open three days of merrymaking that will include a basketball tournament and car and bike show along with food games and live entertainment. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; the East St. Louis police and park district are among the sponsors.Freeburg -- The Freeburg Chamber of Commerce will set the night alight with its fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. Saturday in Freeburg Recreation Park at 300 E. Hill St.Grafton -- After a day of all-American shopping in this village's quaint antique shops and wineries, sit back and enjoy the fireworks going off over the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers at dark Saturday.

Granite City -- Those Patriots in the Park are still on the march as the city continues its Fourth of July celebration today through Sunday.

The main event starts at 6 p.m. Saturday with a huge salute to God and country at the Coolidge Middle School. The night of activities will include a parachute jump and plenty of gospel and patriotic music, all leading to the fireworks spectacle at 9:15.

But there will be plenty else going on in Wilson Park throughout the weekend, including a softball tournament, the Patriot Idol contest that starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday and a family fun day on Sunday that will include a car show, dog show and fireman's rodeo at 10 a.m.

You can even save a few bucks by taking advantage of the $1.50 ride specials tonight and Sunday afternoon and the $16 armband offer from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday.

Hecker -- No fireworks in the sky, but the Hecker Commercial Club hopes you'll light up its dance floor when the Heritage Band plays a free program from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday in the air-conditioned comfort of its exhibition hall. To further entice you, the club's chefs will start serving up their tasty fried chicken at noon and Thrivent of Immanuel Lutheran Church will tempt you with its homemade pies and cakes.

Kaskaskia Island -- For the 40th straight year, Kaskaskia Island will let freedom ring with Fourth of July ceremonies at the Kaskaskia Bell Historic Site.

On July 4, 1778, George Rogers Clark rang Kaskaskia's famed Liberty Bell of the West after he and his troops occupied the village without firing a shot during the Revolutionary War. King Louis XV of France had given the bell to the church of Kaskaskia in 1741.

Now, this 306-year-old community will celebrate its role in winning the country's independence with a program starting at 12:30 p.m. Festivities will include a talk by Samuel P. Wheeler, a Southern Illinois University Carbondale professor of Illinois history, music by the Chester Municipal Band and an appearance by French Marines from nearby Fort DeChartres.

Afterward, take a tour of the historic Immaculate Conception Church and enjoy an all-American lunch. It's in Illinois, but you will have to cross the Mississippi at Chester and follow Missouri routes 51 and H to the site.

Lebanon -- If your little firecrackers can't wait to see those bombs bursting in air, take them to Horner Park Friday night, when the Lebanon-Emerald Mound Fire District will play Independence Day early birds again.

Mascoutah -- Fun-seekers will be flocking to Scheve Park Saturday for Mascoutah's seventh annual Old-Fashioned July 4th Celebration.

They'll get you going early with their Meltdown 5K Run/Walk at 8 a.m. to benefit juvenile diabetes research and keep you moving all day with nonstop activities starting at noon.

The folk sounds of Celtica will open the entertainment at 1 followed by Kathy Scales at 2:30, the classic rock sounds of the Jumpstarts at 3:30, a stirring patriotic program by the Mascoutah Community Choir at 5 and Tom and Kathy LaQuet to polish off the day at 6:30.

There's plenty of fun for the kids courtesy of Cub Scout Troop 43, and adults can escape to the agriculture building for a game or two of bingo. Root on your favorites in the annual Scott-Mascoutah exhibition softball game at 4 p.m. or get in on the action yourself in the softball and kickball tournaments, which start at 9 a.m.

Scheve Park is on Sixth Street between Illinois 177 and 161.

Millstadt -- Vocal pyrotechnics will set off Millstadt's Fourth of July festivities when the Millstadt Community Choir stages its annual patriotic concert Friday night at Zion Church.

Enjoy an all-American supper from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. courtesy of the Zion Church Men's and Women's fellowships. Then, settle in for a rousing patriotic concert at 7 filled with patriotic favorites, including a salute to the armed forces. The church is at 117 W. White St.

Don't forget to come back Saturday night to the village park for fireworks.

Troy -- Revelers will have a bang-up time in Tri-Township Park Saturday night when the city unleashes its fireworks show at dusk.

Valmeyer -- The Valmeyer Jaycees are going for the fences this year with their annual Midsummer Celebration starting tonight in Borsch Park.

At the heart of this all-American gala is the Mon-Clair League's annual Midsummer Classic, an 11-game tussle that opens at 9 a.m. Friday and continues until a winner is crowned after a 3 p.m. championship game on Sunday.

But that's just the start as the town that was forced to move to higher ground after the flood of 1993 celebrates its 100th birthday. There will be dances at 8:30 p.m. tonight through Saturday, a big fireworks show at dusk on the Fourth and a volleyball tourney at 10 a.m. Sunday.

And just look who's showing up for Valmeyer's centennial parade at 2 p.m. Sunday: the world-famous Anheuser-Busch eight-horse Clydesdale hitch. They'll follow the rest of the parade down Main Street from West Road to Borsch Park