Garland, Texas - June 30, 2008 -- This year’s Star Spangled Fourth celebration will carry on a tradition of providing hot entertainment!
Star Spangled Fourth is set for Friday, July 4 at Firewheel Town Center from 10 a.m. to midnight. In keeping with this year’s theme, “We the People Celebrate!”, the event will celebrate Independence Day with a broad range of music on three stages all day and into the night.
Main Stage with Kool & the Gang
Of course the Main Stage will host the nighttime program, which starts at approximately 8 p.m. Time Machine will open the program playing everyone’s favorite hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s. At about 9:30 p.m., spectacular fireworks will fill the night sky choreographed to an exciting arrangement of patriotic songs which will be broadcast simultaneously by KAAM Radio, 770AM.
Then the celebration kicks into even higher gear as Kool & the Gang take the stage at about 10 p.m. This group has two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums. Some of their hits include Celebration, Cherish, Jungle Boogie, Summer Madness and Ladies Night.
The Main Stage will be located on the south side of the Firewheel Town Center Complex near World Market. The Celebration Stage will also be located in this same area and will host musical performances throughout the afternoon, leading up to the Main Stage show.
Celebration Stage
The Celebration Stage will open at 11:45 a.m. with the soulful impressions of Stephanie Lo, followed by with a ‘peaceful, easy feeling’ courtesy of the band “FastLane – A Tribute to the Eagles.” The Dallas Praise Orchestra will present an uplifting and inspirational concert at 1:30 p.m. Then Lindsey Teel will return to the Star Spangled Fourth musical lineup at 2:30 p.m., performing songs from her pop country album, All I Can. Next up, the Tejas Brothers will deliver a delightful blend of country, Tejano, rock and blues. At 4:20 p.m., the David Whiteman Band will deliver a wide selection of R&B, Hip Hop, Latin and dance music from the 70s, 80s, 90s and today.
The Celebration Stage lineup will continue at 5:15 p.m. with Texas native Jerry Audley performing his #1 Texas Music Chart hit “Lucky Me, Lonely You” and other country favorites from his debut album Audley Enough. Then concertgoers can relax to the a capella doo wop harmonies of Renaissance, a Los Angeles quintet. Star Spangled Fourth favorite Ken Savage and the Best Kept Secret will wrap up the Celebration Stage program from 7 to 8 p.m. Their high-energy show includes classic oldies, rhythm and blues, smooth jazz and much more.
All concerts are free and a limited number of open concert seating will be available to the public on a first-come-first-serve basis. The remaining concert viewing area is a parking lot. Patrons are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets.
Family Fun in “Patriot Plaza”
Firewheel Town Center is also bringing a full day of family fun to the mall’s park area, which will be dubbed “Patriot Plaza” for the event. Kids can enjoy bounce houses, climbing walls and an obstacle course. Patrons will be entertained by jugglers, stilt walkers, balloon artists and other street performers. Arts and crafts and delicious festival food will also be available.
Patriot Plaza will also host the Disney Stage featuring Radio Disney’s Jay Jenson with lots of fun games and prizes from Radio Disney! Also appearing on the Disney stage will be the Emmy Award-winning Morris Brothers. Their zany antics and original, family-friendly rock and hip hop music promotes teamwork, friendship, self-esteem, and more! Kids and parents alike will enjoy the interactive show! Other entertainment will include the Rockwall Community Band. Ronald McDonald will also put in an appearance.
Kids who like kitchen fun can participate in the Simon Kidgits Mini-Chef Event, also in the Patriot Plaza. The fun will begin with the chance to make a pasta creation at a Pastabilities craft station hosted by Barilla Piccolini®, a new miniature pasta. Then enjoy the MR. POTATO HEAD MIX N’ MATCH activity from Playskool. Kids will also be eligible for free giveaways, and parents will receive coupons for Barilla Piccolini.
Kids of all ages can visit the Rad Hatter tent to create festive headgear. The hats are made from paper sacks and decorated with paint, feathers, beads or other flashy festoons.
Garland’s Community Multicultural Commission will also present performances featuring some of the many cultures represented within the community, including Latin America, Thailand, Sri Lanka and many more. These musical and dance performances will take place in front of Pier 1 Imports from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Firewheel Town Center, owned by Simon Property Group, is located at State Highway 190 (President George Bush Turnpike) and State Highway 78 in North Garland. With a pedestrian-friendly intimacy, Firewheel Town Center is an open-air, Main Street-style town center. The project is punctuated by over 1 million square feet of retail and entertainment. Firewheel Town Center and Simon Properties are proud to sponsor Star Spangled Fourth 2008.
Other sponsors include the City of Garland, Garland Power & Light, Garland Water Utilities, America’s Credit Union, Baylor Medical Center at Garland, Clear Channel Outdoor, Colonial Bank, Conference Hospitality Group, DART, Freese and Nichols, Fox4, My27, the Garland Journal News, Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, Home Depot, KAAM Radio, R-Delta Engineers, Radio Disney, International Truck and Engine Corporation, Verizon Fios, Baibrook McDonalds, U.S. Army, State Senator Bob Deuell, M.D., Autumn Leaves Living at Richardson/North Garland, Garland ISD and the Special Events Center, World Market, Geico, the Griffith Group, Master Grill Churrascaria, Coopies, Gloria’s Restaurant, Reliable Chevrolet and Saturn of Mesquite.
For more event information, visit www.starspangledfourth.com.