456 FIREWORKS, PATRIOTIC MUSIC, FAMILY ACTIVITIES AT MTSU JULY 4th

June 1, 2006
CONTACT: Marlane Sewell, 615-893-2141
Tom Tozer, 615-898-5131

MURFREESBORO—Rutherford County’s “Celebration Under the Stars” will once again be held on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University—and admission to the family-oriented event will be free of charge. Festivities will kick off at 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 4, on the university’s intramural field, the traditional site for the countywide event.
From 5 to 8 p.m., there will be games and activities for the kids, including face painting, patriotic puzzles and arts ‘n’ crafts projects. There also will be prizes and promotional giveaways.
The Col. Hardy Murfree Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution again will provide free American flags for everyone. The chapter has provided flags for this celebration for the last eight years.
Wal-Mart is donating the “Celebration Under the Stars” birthday cakes.
Rep. John Hood, program emcee, will extend a formal welcome at 7:30 p.m., followed by remarks from local dignitaries and sponsor representatives.
At 8:00 p.m., following the presentation of colors by the Murfreesboro Fire Department’s Color Guard, a tribute to the armed forces and singing of the national anthem, the Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra will present a program of traditional patriotic tunes, rousing Sousa marches, and inspirational classics. Laurence Harvin will conduct. The symphony is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The fireworks will light up the sky at 9:00.
The Blue Raider Athletic Association will sell soft drinks, pizza, hotdogs, and traditional holiday snacks and desserts. Chick Fil-A food items also will be available.
Guests should enter the campus on Faulkinberry Drive off Middle Tennessee Boulevard and from Greenland Drive. The entrances on the east side of campus along Rutherford Boulevard will be closed, and parking will not be permitted on either side of Rutherford Boulevard. The best parking on campus will be north and west of the celebration site.
The lots adjacent to the Recreation Center will be closed. MTSU police and university’s personnel will be on duty to help people to parking areas, and directional signs will be posted.
Rutherford Boulevard will be closed temporarily during the fireworks display and re-opened as soon as the area has been cleared.
For safety purposes, organizers would like to remind everyone that pets, alcoholic beverages, cooking grills, and personal fireworks or sparklers are not permitted on the celebration site.
Outside banners will not be allowed on the grounds, and the BRAA will be the sole food vendor.
Families are encouraged, however, to bring picnic baskets, lawn chairs, and blankets for picnicking on the grass. (Cooking grills may be used only in the appropriate paved parking lots.)
Sponsors of the event include MTSU, the DNJ, the City of Murfreesboro, Murfreeboro Parks and Recreation, Rutherford County Government, and Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to MTSU, the DNJ, and the City of Murfreesboro, additional symphony supporters include the Sun Trust Bank and the Tennessee Arts Commission.
A special “Celebration Under the Stars” insert in the July 2 issue of the DNJ will provide more details and a map.
For more information, call Marlane Sewell, steering committee chair, at 615-896-6710 or MTSU News and Public Affairs at 615-898-2919.

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