Get out your red, white and blue, the Fourth of July is approaching. Here are some places you can find the rocket’s red glare and bombs well, OK, fireworks bursting in air.
Schenectady County
The first Independence Day event in the area kicks off in Scotia at Jumpin’ Jack’s Drive In on Friday, June 29. The Coors Light U.S. Ski Team show will start the evening at 7 p.m. on the Mohawk River behind Jumpin’ Jack’s. The team will debut its `Battle Royale` performance where two teams of skiers will compete for audience approval.
`Each performance is like a Broadway play on water,` marketing director Elsa Radliff said.
The Boys of Wexford will take the stage in Freedom Park at 8 p.m. Performers from Wexford, Ireland, will join with their partners from sister-city Hartford, Conn., to present a free night of authentic Irish music.
And for the main event, Jumpin’ Jack’s will sponsor a 25-minute fireworks show starting at 9:15 p.m. Jumpin’ Jack’s owner, Mark Lansing, said he puts on the $12,000 show every year not just because he loves fireworks, but also to say thanks.
`It’s my way of giving back to the public for everything they’ve done for me,` Lansing said.
Saratoga County
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center will host Stewart’s Shop Family Night on Wednesday, July 4. The grounds will open at 6 p.m. for a family picnic competition.
`Families can compete in categories such as most patriotic and most original picnic,` said Vesna Gjaja, director of development and marketing. Admission for children will be free on the lawn where they can enjoy magicians, balloon artists and free ice cream from Stewart’s.
At 8 p.m., the New York City Ballet will take the stage with its patriotic performance called `Essential Balanchine.` Fireworks will follow at 10 p.m., sponsored by Stewarts Shop.
`It is a great night for families and children. We hope families will enjoy the complete SPAC experience,` said Gjaja.
Albany County
Price Chopper will host its 31st Fabulous Fourth on The Plaza in Albany. The festivities begin at 2 p.m. at both the north and south ends, with food and craft vendors and children’s activities like bounce rides and face painting. Grab a piece of the world’s largest sausage patty as Hatfield Quality Meats competes for the title by cooking a patty of more than 1 ton of sausage.
Local rock band Ten Year Vamp will take the stage at 3 p.m., followed by Captain Squeeze and the Zydeco Moshers with some fast-paced southern folk music at 4:45 p.m.
A fan of Price Chopper’s `House of Barbeque` tune? Jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks will perform before handing the stage over to the headlining band, the Spin Doctors, around 7:15 p.m. The multi-platinum band has made appearances on Saturday Night Live and in Rolling Stone Magazine and is known for singles such as `Two Princes` and `Just Go Ahead Now.`
`We are expecting around 50,000 spectators at the fireworks. This event is the single largest event in the Capital District,` said Mona Golub, manager of public relations and consumer services for Price Chopper.
She said this has been the hometown to Price Chopper since it was created in 1932.
`It’s our way of giving back to the community that has given us so much,` Golub said.
Since Price Chopper started the Fabulous Fourth event 31 years ago, it has never considered not holding the celebration.
The musical fireworks spectacular is scheduled to start around 9:15 p.m. Spectators are welcome to bring coolers, but leave the glass bottles at home.
`It’s a time to celebrate being a community and to celebrate being American,` said Golub.“
