ARE WE THERE YET?

Get your Fourth on with fireworks, concerts, fun

Public fireworks shows can be enjoyed at locations across Arkansas during Independence Day and pre-Independence Day celebrations.
Public fireworks shows can be enjoyed at locations across Arkansas during Independence Day and pre-Independence Day celebrations.

Pops on the River, set for Tuesday night and sponsored by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, annually wows its central Arkansas audience with a dazzling fireworks show. But other eye-popping displays of pyrotechnics are scheduled around the state during the evenings leading up to July 4.

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Democrat-Gazette file photo

Public fireworks shows can be enjoyed at locations across Arkansas during Independence Day and pre-Independence Day celebrations.

For fanciers of bright lights bursting in air, here's a sampler of Independence Day shows that can serve as warmup acts for Tuesday's extravaganza in the skies over Little Rock and North Little Rock. The fireworks start at dusk or later, with viewing generally free. There could be a charge for parking.

• Lake Hamilton: Saturday's event in Hot Springs is one of several displays that takes place over water. The fireworks will blast off around dusk in the middle of Lake Hamilton from barges on the east side of Arkansas 7 at the first bridge directly opposite the Clarion Hotel.

• Heber Springs: Dam Site Park on the shores of Greers Ferry Lake is the venue for this 9:30 p.m. Saturday "extravaganza," billed as "one of the largest fireworks displays in Arkansas." There'll also be activities for youngsters, food vendors and music starting at 7:30 p.m. by Charlie Rock, the 106th Army Band.

• Strawberry: This northeast Arkansas hamlet with the delectable name will stage its 16th annual fireworks display starting around 10 p.m. Saturday at the Strawberry Ball Field, preceded by music. At 5 p.m., the Show and Shine Car Show takes place in the junior high parking lot.

• Alma: Patriotic music to honor military men and women, with singer Casey Craig, will precede Saturday's "Fireworks on the Hill" at dusk near I-49's Exit 24 in Alma, 10 miles east of Fort Smith. Concessions will include gyros, funnel cakes, fried Twinkies, kettle corn, barbecue and snow cones.

• Garfield: Just south of Marker 8 on Beaver Lake, Ventris Trail's End resort puts on one of Northwest Arkansas' largest fireworks displays. The sky will light up after dark on Saturday in a show coordinated with music. Views from boats on the lake will be enhanced by reflections on the water.

• Eureka Springs: Lake Leatherwood Park will be the setting for fireworks starting at dusk Sunday in this Northwest Arkansas tourist magnet. Food and beverages will be for sale. Free shuttles will run from downtown Eureka Springs to the lake.

• Norfork Lake: "Bombs in the Basin" is the tagline for another aquatic setting as fireworks will start exploding after dark Monday over Norfork Lake. The site for this 32nd annual show is in the Henderson area between the U.S. 62 and Arkansas 101 bridges nine miles east of Mountain Home.

• Hot Springs: The gates at Oaklawn Park will open at 5 p.m. Monday with free admission for the 26th year of Spa Blast. A petting zoo will be among the family-focused attractions, with music by the Spa City Young Bloods, John Calvin Brewer and others. Fireworks will follow the Pump-Mile High Tribute to Aerosmith.

More information on these and other fireworks shows can be found at arkansas.com and exploresouthernhistory.com.

Weekend on 06/29/2017

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