Get ready for
Bristol's Star-Spangled Weekend!
Let's Celebrate Bristol! |
 Bristol's Star-Spangled Weekend
July 3 - 5, 2009
Friday, July 3rd
7pm, White Sox Baseball Game & 10pm, Fireworks
Enjoy America's game at DeVault Stadium for Celebrate Bristol Night. The Bristol White Sox will play the Johnson City Cardinals, beginning at 7:00pm, followed by Star-Spangled Fireworks sponsored by Pepsi at approximately 10:00pm.
Saturday, July 4th
10am, Star-Spangled Independence Parade
Independence parade lines up on Morrison Blvd at 8:00am, begins on State Street at 10:00am and continues East into downtown Bristol. 11:30am, Cumberland Square Park Citywide Picnic (Hot Dogs, Chips & Water) and Live Music Children's Inflatables
Book signings: Bud Phillips, George Stone, Joe Tennis, & More
On the Stage: Bristol Virginia Senior Show Choir, directed by Danny Hill
The National Anthem by Bristol native, Katie Salyer
Historical Portrayal of Patrick Henry by Ron Smith
Ron Smith is a retired educator from Northern Virginia that moved to Bristol in 2006. He has directed high school plays, children's theatre and both musical and non-musical productions for fourteen years. He founded three church-based drama groups, including the current drama program at North Star Baptist Church in Bristol. Mr. Smith is currently working as an Assistant House Manager at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia.
God Bless America by Bristol native, Jessica Nixon
Headliner: Trey Hensley in Concert, 12:30 - 2pm
Trey is a young 18-year old artist that has followed his heart into the world of country music. Though young he has already gained the respect of people like Marty Stuart, who called Hensley a "bona fide hillbilly rock star". Trey's new CD is a combination of new, radio-friendly contemporary songs as well as songs with the classic sound of some of his heroes. The release offers music as originally performed by Elton John, Conway Twitty, Jimmy Dickens and the Gaither Vocal Band. He's also included songs written by Charlie Daniels, Larry Gatlin and Jeannie Seeley. In addition to his performance in Bristol on July 4th at 12:30am he will also introduce his second country CD, titled "It Is What It Is" in Jonesborough that evening. He is also on the road with his four-piece band for a tour that will carry him from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, Nebraska to North Carolina and beyond.
12pm, AACA Sanctioned Car Show
The Mountain Empire Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America has scheduled their largest event of the year in downtown Bristol on July 4th. Anticipating over 100 antique vehicles, the AACA will meet following participating in Bristol's Independence Parade. They will gather at noon in the TriSummit Bank Parking Lot on the corner of State Street & MLK Jr Blvd and will display one of the region's best collections of vintage vehicles. Judging will be at 2:00pm where over 20 trophies will be awarded. Dr. John Rice of Bristol is the president of the AACA Mountain Empire Chapter.
2pm, Bristol Union Railway Station Grand
Re-opening
The newly restored 1902 Bristol Train Station will have its Grand Re-opening on Saturday July 4 in conjunction with Bristol's annual Star-Spangled Saturday celebration. This event will complete a ten-year $5 million dollar renovation under the direction of the nonprofit Bristol Trainstation Foundation. The foundation and both city governments jointly purchased the former Railway Station in 1999 following its use as a shopping mall and years of disrepair. The official ceremony will be held at 2:00pm, which will recognize dignitaries and supporters of the project and will follow by an open house to the facility. Historical portrayals will be provided by Theatre Bristol and music will be provided by Bristol's Own Dixieland Band. Following the ceremony Ice Cream will be provided by State Street Sweets and Eats.
Art of the Highlands Railroad Art Exhibit, Bristol Train Station - O. Winston Link Photographic Exhibit
The photographic works of O. Winston Link will be displayed in the North Room of the Bristol Train Station from July 4th until Thursday July 9th. O. Winston Link, a professional photographer that mastered lighting for large-scale railroad photos, captured the last days of steam operations on the N & W Railway in the late 1950s. Now fifty years later his collection of images is more than trains and rail operations, but vignettes into history and sociology. They are art and now one of the most significant collections of photography in the nation. This collection of images is part of a larger collection of Links' at the O. Winston Link Museum in downtown RoanokeVirginia. The entire collection consists of 300 images, sound recordings, interactive exhibits and a documentary film on the artist. Admission is free to the public for the Bristol exhibit in downtown Bristol. Donations will be received at the event. The exhibit will run from Saturday July 4th through Thursday July 9th. Hours of viewing are Saturday 1pm to 7:30pm, Monday - Thursday 1pm - 7:30pm.
Sunday, July 5th
3pm, Dedication of The Overmountain Patriots of the AmericanRevolutionMonument (1775-1783)
The Fort Chiswell Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution will be having a dedication service of a new monument now placed in CumberlandSquarePark. The large stone mounted with a bronze plaque honors the Overmountain men from the Bristol area that fought in decisive battles such as Musgrove Mill, the Battle of Kings Mountain, and Cowpens which helped turn the tide of the war and set the stage when General George Washington's defeat of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown in October 1781. The dedication will be held at the Veterans Memorial at CumberlandSquarePark at 3:00pm Sunday afternoon. Overmountain rein-actors and period music will be the backdrop for this inspirational service, which is open to the public.
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