SPECIAL EVENTS: July 4 celebrations scaled back or canceled due to coronavirus

Spectators watch from the fireworks over the Arkansas River from Little Rock's Junction Bridge for the finale of the 2019 Pops on the River. This year's event has been canceled.
(Democrat-Gazette file photo/Thomas Metthe)
Spectators watch from the fireworks over the Arkansas River from Little Rock's Junction Bridge for the finale of the 2019 Pops on the River. This year's event has been canceled. (Democrat-Gazette file photo/Thomas Metthe)

July 4 celebrations around the state have been canceled, cut back or curtailed by the coronavirus, but here's a list of what we know:

Pops on the River

Pops on the River, the annual Fourth of July celebration sponsored by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, has been canceled out of concerns for public health and safety.

Amanda Copley, the newspaper's marketing and events director, said the cancellation came at the request of the city and was based on safety concerns.

Copley said one concern was since the event would be free, controlling the number and density of crowds would have been difficult. The July 4 event was scheduled to be held at Little Rock's Riverfront Park, and it would have marked its 37th consecutive year.

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Events were to include a concert by the Arkansas Symphony ⁠— with singer Nicki Parrish and trumpeter Rodney Block as opening acts ⁠— on the amphitheater stage, a children's pavilion, a marketplace and a fireworks display finale.

Star Spangled Spectacular

Camden celebrates July 4 with music and fireworks at the 20th annual Star Spangled Spectacular, Saturday at the Camden Municipal Airport, 105 U.S. 278, Camden.

Gates open at 6 p.m., with fireworks at dark (approximately 9:15). The McKelvin Brothers kick off the entertainment lineup at 6:30, p.m.; Shanna Dorey will join them at 7 for the singing of the national anthem, followed by "The Voice" contestant LB Crew with "American Idol" winner Kris Allen as the headliner. Radio station KCAC-FM, 89.5, will broadcast the event.

Covid-19 guidelines means there will be neither inflatables for the kids nor concessions this year; take your own drinks and snacks and lawn chairs or blankets to sit by your vehicles. There will be special parking available for veterans and current members of the military.

Sponsors include Aerojet Rocketdyne, the Camden & Ouachita County Ministerial Alliance, the Camden Advertising and Promotion Commission and other local businesses and industries. Visit ExploreCamden.com.

Rogers fireworks

The city of Rogers and the Walmart AMP, 5079 W. Northgate Road, Rogers, are teaming up for a socially distant fifth annual July 4 Fireworks Spectacular, to be visible from parking lots surrounding the amphitheater, including the Pinnacle Mall parking lot on the east side of Interstate 49.

Fireworks will be launched from the parking lot adjacent to Hunt Tower in Rogers at 9:30 p.m.; the show will last about 25 minutes. Patrons are urged to remain in their cars. Fayetteville radio station KKIX-FM, 103.9 "Kix 104," will air a patriotic-theme playlist to accompany the show. The amphitheater will be closed to the public and there will be no on-site family fun activities nor a performance by the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas.

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