July 4 weekend brings music and plenty of fireworks

Friday, July 2, 2010

Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo The U.S. Marine Band's saxophone quartet will appear July 2 at the River Concert Series, which will culminate with fireworks to celebrate Independence Day weekend. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

‘Summoning the Heroes' — Southern Maryland's Independence Day weekend will begin at 7 p.m. July 2 on the Townhouse Green at St. Mary's College of Maryland.

For week three of the 12th annual River Concert Series, artistic director Jeffrey Silberschlag and the Chesapeake Orchestra will perform music by John Williams and Gershwin plus John Philip Sousa marches.

Special guests will include pianist Brian Ganz and the U.S. Marine Band's saxophone quartet, which will perform P. Goldstein's "Abundant Air." Ian Chaava, the Young Artist Concerto Competition's runner-up, will also perform.

The free concert will culminate with fireworks. Parking is in designated lots along Route 5. Bring a blanket or chair.

Vendors will sell food, but picnic baskets and coolers are allowed. The college is in St. Mary's City.

To find out about changes in the concert location or cancellations due to weather, call 240-895-2024 or go to www.smcm.edu.

Go to www.riverconcertseries.org.

An ‘old-fashioned' Independence Day — Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department will host a celebration from 7-11 p.m. July 3.

The event will feature music by local variety band No Green JellyBeenz as well as carnival food, games and a daytime car, truck and bike show. A fireworks show is planned for dusk.

Call 240-925-7863. Go to www.hvdf7.com.

Celebrate on the lawn — Sotterley Plantation will host its annual Independence Day concert from 1-4 p.m. Take in the view of the Patuxent River while listening to patriotic music by the Chesapeake Orchestra's brass quintet, led by Jeffrey Silberschlag.

Food and drinks can be purchased on the site. Take a chance at winning a raffle and silent auction.

Fee is $10 per car. Members of military get in for free.

Go to www.sotterley.org.

Charles County Fairgrounds — Head to the site at 5 p.m. July 5 for a carnival, DJ and music by the Southern Maryland Concert Band, which will play from 7:30 p.m. until the fireworks start.

Parking and admission is free. Food can be purchased on the site or you can bring your own (though alcoholic beverages are not allowed).

The site is on U.S. 301 in La Plata.

Call 301-932-1234

Indian Head — July 4 events will begin at 3:30 p.m. with a patriotic kick-off ceremony at the Village Green, 100 Walter Thomas Drive. Enjoy rides, food and games from 4-8 p.m. and entertainment by DJ Rockin' Roger and the band Road House from 5-9 p.m.

Fireworks will go off at 9:10 p.m. Call 240-375-4061.

Twin Beaches — Fireworks will begin at sunset July 3 on the beach in Chesapeake Beach. The Chesapeake Beach Water Park, 10479 Creekside Drive, will remain open until 10 p.m.

Solomons — The annual Solomons fireworks show will be held July 4. Fireworks will be shot from a barge in the Patuxent River and can be viewed from the boardwalk.

Traffic on the island will be restricted, so park only in designated areas such as Glascock Field, Calvert Marine Museum, in the public lot behind Our Lady, Star of the Sea or Solomons Medical Center.

A shuttle will start running at 4 p.m. from Glascock Field.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs — The squad second's Independence Day celebration will last throughout the weekend, as all three games against the Camden Riversharks will be followed by fireworks.

"With this year's Independence Day on a Sunday," a press release states, "the Blue Crabs are primed for perhaps the biggest weekend at Regency Furniture Stadium in franchise history." 

The "Red, White & Blue Crabs" celebration will begin at 7 p.m. July 2, when the Blue Crabs take on the Riversharks, and continue at 6:35 July 3.

For the July 3 game, fans can sit in the Legends Club and partake in a buffet for $25 (301-374-1123).

The July 4 game, meanwhile, will start at 7:05 p.m., but get there early to witness an apple pie bake-off judged by Blue Crabs players.

For the game, the Blue Crabs will don special stars and stripes jerseys, and fans can bid on the uniforms during a silent auction benefitting the Civista Health Foundation. 

For more information on buffet specials, call 301-374-1135.

Go to www.somdbluecrabs.com.