Wichita to celebrate July 4 with a Boom

When the volunteer-led Wichita Parks Foundation was looking for a signature event that would showcase its mission, it was quick to spot an opening on the community’s calendar.

“It had been about 10 years since there had been a fireworks show that the city had put on downtown, and we saw that as a void for our community,” said Brent Thomas, chair of the foundation’s board of directors. “We wanted to have an event that brings people together and showcases the importance of the city’s parks and open spaces.”

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers signed on as presenting sponsor, and the first Red, White & Boom attracted an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 to downtown Wichita last July.

“When the Wichita Parks Foundation first announced in 2015 they planned to bring back the fireworks, there was an immediate consensus among our team. It was a perfect match for our family-friendly culture,” said Ben Simon, vice president of operations for Freddy’s, which started in Wichita in 2002 and now has restaurants in 30 states. “We’re excited to be involved for the second consecutive year, and we hope our support helps Wichita again think of the July 4 fireworks as a fun holiday tradition.”

To help rebuild the event as a tradition, Freddy’s has agreed to be the presenting sponsor for the next three years, through 2019.

This year’s Red, White & Boom is a free block-party style event from 5 to 10:30 p.m. Monday, July 4, in the areas around the Hyatt Regency Wichita lawn, the Lewis Street Bridge and Water Street. On-air personalities from 97.1 Bob FM will play music until local dance band The Astronauts takes the stage for a concert at 7 p.m. Food trucks and a beer garden will be available all evening in front of the Hyatt.

Fireworks over the Arkansas River will start at 9:45 p.m. and will be accompanied by music. There also will be low-level pyrotechnics fired from two barges in the river, and two static displays on the west bank will light up to spell Wichita and display an American flag.

Thomas said one of the best vantage points for the fireworks is from the Lewis Street Bridge, so they’ve added bleachers there for open seating. Other recommended public viewing spots are the Hyatt Lawn and the east bank bike path between the Lewis Street and Douglas Avenue bridges. Lawn chairs or blankets are encouraged.

Wingnuts

Another good seat for the aerial displays (although you won’t be able to see the barges or the static display) is inside Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, 300 S. Sycamore. The Wichita Wingnuts are scheduled to play the Laredo Lemurs at 6:05 p.m., and attendees can stay to watch the fireworks. Vouchers for $1 general admission tickets are available at area Kwik Shop locations. The vouchers also are good for discounted reserved seats.

The Wingnuts will sell hot dogs and small soft drinks for $1 each at concession stands, and their gift shop will have several $1 items. Freddy’s co-founder and namesake Freddy Simon will throw out the game’s first pitch.

“At 91, he still enjoys attending local events and he loves to visit the Freddy’s restaurants to surprise guests and sign autographs,” Ben Simon said of his grandfather.

Cowtown

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 2, Old Cowtown Museum is resurrecting another Fourth of July tradition. The living history museum is bringing back its Celebrate America event for the first time in six years. Admission is $5.50-$7.75 for ages 4 and up, free for active-duty and retired military and their dependents.

“It was always very popular, and we’re excited to be able to do it again,” said Jacky Goerzen, executive director at Cowtown.

The old-fashioned Independence Day celebration will start with the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at 10:15 a.m. followed by a reading of the Declaration of Independence. A cast of costumed interpreters will show what life was like just off the Chisholm Trail during the 1865-1880 time frame, and there will be carnival games, sack races, a petting zoo and other activities. Wagon rides will be available from noon to 3 p.m., an anvil shooting occurs at 12:45 and 4 p.m., and a gunfight will be staged at 3 p.m.

At noon, children can watch or join in a parade alongside the Fort Riley Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard. At 1 p.m., the Wichita Bull Stockings will play the Topeka Westerns in a baseball game played with 1870s uniforms and rules. Free ice cream for paid guests is at 4:30 p.m. in the visitors center.

Here are other area Fourth of July activities taking place this weekend. Be sure to pack lawn chairs or blankets if you’re heading out to watch fireworks displays.

Wichita

Wichita Scottish Rite: On Saturday and Sunday, July 2-3, the Wichita Scottish Rite Signature Theatre will perform “1776,” a local production of the hit Broadway musical based on the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Shows are at 8 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday at the Scottish Rite, 332 E. First St. Tickets range from $10-$18 and are available at wichitascottishrite.org.

Riverside: On Monday, July 4, the Riverside Citizens Association will hold its annual Fourth of July Pancake Breakfast and Children’s Parade at the Pagoda building in Central Riverside Park. Breakfast by Chris Cakes will be served from 7 to 11 a.m. and will cost $8 for adults and $5 for ages 10 and under. Registration for the parade is free and is from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., with the parade at 10. Kids can walk or ride their bicycles or tricycles. Parade prizes will be drawn at 10:45 a.m. Call 316-262-6165 for more information.

Crown Heights: 10 a.m. Monday, July 4, residents will gather in the 200 block of North Old Manor for a low-key parade with decorated bikes, wagons and dogs.

College Hill: Free swim day from 1-7 p.m. Monday, July 4, at the College Hill pool, 304 S. Circle Drive. All patrons who are properly attired will be admitted to the pool at no charge.

Augusta

On Sunday, July 3, Augusta will have its annual fireworks show at Augusta City Lake around 9:30 p.m. On Monday, July 4, a children’s parade begins at 10 a.m. in the bank parking lot at Seventh and State streets. Children can ride tricycles, bicycles, scooters or wagons.

Benton

On Saturday, July 2, Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper, 15231 Southwest Parallel in Benton, is having a patriotic concert featuring Barry Ward, a Kansas cowboy singer who has won Male Vocalist of the Year awards from the Western Music Association and the Academy of Western Artists. Gates open at 5 p.m. with horse-drawn wagon rides and classic cowboy movies showing in the Bar 20 Theatre. At 6:15 p.m. an all-you-can-eat chuckwagon supper is served in the Opera House, where Ward will perform with the Prairie Rose Rangers’ Jesse and Orin Friesen. All-inclusive tickets are $40 adults, $10 age 3-10. Reservations required by calling 316-778-2121.

Derby

On Monday, July 4, Derby’s Independence Day parade will start at 10 a.m. at Panther Stadium, 925 E. Madison Ave., and proceed west on Madison to Georgie, south on Georgie to Market, and east on Market back to the middle school. The Derby Historical Museum, 208 N. Westview, will be open after the parade, from about 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. In the evening, the Derby Twins play host to the Haysville Aviators in a Jayhawk Baseball League game at 7 p.m. at Panther Field. The city’s Independence Day Celebration begins at 7 p.m. in High Park, 2801 E. James. There will be bounce houses, cornhole sets and a large sandbox with supplies to build sand castles. Free ice cream will be served, and food concessions will be available. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. Find more information at derbyweb.com/july4.

El Dorado

On Monday, July 4, the El Dorado Parks and Recreation department has a full day of free events planned for the city’s Independence Day celebration. Daytime activities start at 9 a.m. and center around East Park, 100 S. Woodland, where there will be a whiffle ball tournament, a kids’ bike parade, arts, crafts and games until lunch. Free hot dogs and chips will be served starting at 11:30 a.m. There’s open swim time from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Municipal Pool. Then at 7 p.m., the El Dorado Broncos baseball team plays the Hays Larks in McDonald Stadium, 298 N. Griffith. Fireworks are at the stadium following the game.

Garden Plain

On Monday, July 4, the 5K Freedom Run and 1 Mile Fun Run at 7 a.m. in City Park starts the Independence Day activities in Garden Plain that conclude with fireworks at 10 p.m. In between, visitors can compete in basketball, dodgeball, horseshoes, human foosball, kickball, volleyball, washers and a watermelon-eating contest. There is a parade on Main Street at 11 a.m. and other free activities all afternoon. From noon to 6 p.m. a $10 bracelet allows unlimited rides and games in an area with inflatables, a dunk tank, a barrel train and a petting zoo. Moonlight DJ will play music from 7 to 11 p.m., with fireworks at 10 p.m. A full schedule is available at gardenplain.com.

Goddard

On Saturday, July 2, the Goddard Lions Club and Goddard Activities Committee will host free activities starting at 6 p.m. outside Discovery Intermediate School, 301 S. Main. The first 500 attendees can enjoy free hot dogs, watermelon and ice cream. There will be a moon bounce, and the baseball fields will be open to those who want to bring their own equipment. The Pina Brothers band will play from 7 to 9:45 p.m., when the fireworks show begins. After fireworks, there will be a free swim at the Goddard City Pool through midnight.

Haysville

Haysville’s Fourth of July celebration begins Monday, July 4, at 8:30 a.m. with a parade from Haysville Middle School, 900 W. Grand, to Haysville United Methodist Church, 601 E. Grand. The remainder of the day is packed with a coed sand volleyball tournament and free kids’ activities in or near Riggs Park. Kids can compete in a fishing derby, frog races, raft races and an obstacle course. All ages are welcome at the water carnival at Dewey Gunzelman Swimming Pool, 525 Sarah Lane, where admission from 1-6 p.m. is one nonperishable food item for the Haysville Food Bank. The Llew Brown Band will play at 7:30 p.m. at Riggs Park, followed by fireworks about 9:45 p.m. Go to haysville-ks.com for more information.

Hutchinson

HutchFest takes place at the Kansas State Fairgrounds with events and activities on Friday, Saturday and Monday. A $5 wristband is required to attend any events and can be purchased at area Kwik Shops. Friday’s events include a talent show, live music and a barbecue cook-off. Saturday’s events include a car/truck/bike show, group exercise classes, live music, roller derby, food-eating contests, inflatables and a teen dance. Monday’s festivities include the 33rd annual Patriots Parade on Main Street at 10 a.m. and dirt track racing at the Grandstand at 7 p.m. Admission to the races is $12 (ages 11 and up), $5 for kids age 6-10, and you’ll receive a $2 discount per ticket with a HutchFest wristband. A fireworks show starts at 10 p.m. Food vendors and a beer garden are available daily. For a complete schedule, visit hutchfest.org.

Matfield Green

On Saturday, July 2, the Bethel College Brass Quintet will give a free concert in the loft of the 1915 barn at Pioneer Bluffs ranch, 695 Kansas Highway 177 near Matfield Green. The performance starts at 1:30 p.m. and will be followed by an ice cream social at about 3 p.m. Guests can meet and visit with the performers while enjoying homemade ice cream and a sundae bar. The ice cream social is a fundraising benefit; donations received will fund future family events at Pioneer Bluffs. Reservations are requested but not required. Contact Lynn Smith at 620-753-3484 or lynn@pioneerbluffs.org, for reservations or more information.

Mulvane

A traveling 9/11 Never Forget exhibit is at the Kansas Star Casino through July 5 to honor the lives that were sacrificed on Sept. 11, 2001. A high-tech, 53-foot tractor unfolds into a 1,000-square-foot exhibit that includes artifacts, videos and audio recordings. Visitors can walk through the time-stamped exhibit to learn about the events through the eyes of the New York Police Department. NYPD volunteers will be on hand to answer questions. The exhibit is staged in the casino’s parking lot and is free and open to all ages from 2 to 8 p.m. daily.

North Newton

On Monday, July 4, Kidron Bethel Village is holding its 12th annual Fireworks Extravaganza at 3001 Ivy Drive, North Newton. It starts at 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Before the fireworks at dusk, enjoy live music, kids games and free watermelon. There will also be a quilt raffle, craft sale, bake sale, homemade ice cream and concessions to benefit the residents’ Health Care Benevolent Fund.

Park City

Park City’s Salute to Freedom is taking place at Hap McLean Park, 6801 N. Hydraulic, on Monday, July 4. A car show is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a parade starts at 9 a.m. at Spangles, heading east on 61st Street to Hydraulic, then north to the park. Park activities go from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include inflatables, games with prizes, a train, face painting, a horseshoe tournament and a pet show. There will be free ice cream at 10:30 a.m. and watermelon at 1 p.m. From 6 to 10 p.m. choose between a stage featuring a magician or live music on the concert stage: British tribute band Across the Pond, Patz and Annie Up. All events are free, although a ticket is required to get into the concert area. Tickets are available at the fireworks stand behind Emprise Bank in Park City, sponsor locations, at the DJ stage (daytime stage) in the park and at the gate. Organizers say the best place to see the fireworks, which start at 10 p.m., is from the concert stage area.

Rose Hill

On Monday, July 4, the Rose Hill Recreation Commission is having a free ice cream social at 8 p.m. in Shorty Cox Park, 600 E. School, with prizes and music by a DJ followed by a fireworks display at dusk.

Strong City

On Saturday, July 2, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is hosting a Cowboy Independence Day Holiday. The preserve is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., although the holiday festivities are around the 1-3 p.m. time frame. Admission is free and will include a cowboy reading of the Declaration of Independence followed by old-fashioned games like tug-of-war, potato sack races and one-foot-hop races. Lemonade and water will be available. Living history characters will provide typical ranching demonstrations and activities all day. Visit nps.gov/tapr for more information.

This story was originally published June 28, 2016 at 6:55 PM with the headline "Wichita to celebrate July 4 with a Boom."