Nashville's July 4th fireworks cap Brett Eldredge's Music City moment

Independence Day is Brett Eldredge’s second-favorite holiday – behind Christmas. The multi-platinum-selling country singer grew up in Illinois near a lake and he and his brother spent the day on jet skis while their parents hosted cookouts with family, fireworks and his mom’s famous fruit pizza.

This July 4th Eldredge will again have the water at his back when he headlines Nashville’s Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th presented by Dr. Pepper on Thursday. The main stage, featuring Eldredge, will be at Fifth and Broadway. The Nashville Symphony will perform at Ascend Amphitheater soon after, its songs synchronized to Music City’s highly lauded fireworks extravaganza.

“I don’t know how many hundreds of thousands of people will be there, but it is going to be something really exciting,” Eldredge said. “We’d always have huge family gatherings and now we’re having a giant family gathering of about 250,000 people.”

For the first time, Nashville’s festivities will officially start on July 3 timed to the Gold Cup semifinal soccer match at Nissan Stadium. Dubbed “Start With a Kick & End With a Bang,” activities will begin at noon in the free family fun zone in Walk of Fame Park. Doors open at 3 p.m. at Ascend Amphitheater where the evening’s entertainment will include Bizz & Everyday People, The Whigs and “American Idol” runner-up Alejandro Aranda performing as Scarypoolparty at 6:15 p.m. The Gold Cup semifinal soccer match is at 8 p.m. in Nissan Stadium and will be followed by a five-minute firework show. 

“We’re excited to have a two-day event this year,” said Deana Ivey, executive vice president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. and explained the Gold Cup soccer event was important game for the city in its bid to host the World Cup. “People can come down and hang out (at Ascend) and listen to the music and walk over to the soccer game. It’s a great family experience. It’s so much fun, so much energy and all the children these days grow up playing soccer.”

Families can head back to downtown Nashville at noon on July 4th for plenty of all-ages fun in Walk of Fame Park. Additional inflatables and other kid-friendly zones will be activated in the area from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., $1 hotdogs and $1 bottles of water will be available, and DJ Robert Luke will keep the party atmosphere high.  

Music on the main stage at 5th and Broadway also begins at noon with DJ Dave Audé. Over the course of the afternoon, the line-up includes: Joe West Band, Jackson Bruck & The Dukes of Hume, Creature Comfort and Dylan Scott. 

The main show begins at 5 p.m. with emcee Storme Warren, remarks from Mayor David Briley and the National Anthem from Jason Eskridge. Jessy Wilson and Mac McAnally follow before Eldredge takes the stage at 8:20 p.m.

Known for songs including his recent No. 1 hit “Love Someone” and his past chart-toppers “Beat of the Music” and “Wanna Be That Song,” Eldredge promises to “make a moment here in Nashville.”

“There’s no place I’d rather be for the fourth of July,” Eldredge said. “I know it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m all in.”

More than 200,000 people are expected downtown for Nashville’s Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th, which is intentionally spread across multiple locations to reduce shoulder-to-shoulder overcrowding. Ivey said large viewing screens would be set up in  to allow people stationed across the Let Freedom Sing! footprint to comfortable enjoy all aspects of the patriotic celebration.

“When people think (of the attendance numbers), I think it scares them off a little bit and they don’t want to get in that mess,” she said.  “It’s not a problem. People are having a great time. It’s more of a festival atmosphere.”

The Nashville Symphony will be on stage at Ascend Amphitheater to provide the soundtrack for the 9:30 p.m. sparkling spectacle. The year’s fireworks presentation, she promised, will be one for the record books. While officials refrain from claiming it’s the biggest in the country, Ivey said the finale will be “the most powerful in Nashville history.”

To create the 30-minute pyrotechnics show, 18 technicians worked for eight days to set up 62,000 shells that equate to 36,000 pounds of explosives.  

“It’s really gained a great reputation for a fun, family event,” Ivey said. “Come and enjoy all the activities and stay for the free concert and the best most impressive fireworks show you can find anywhere.”

Eldredge added: “The excitement in this city, I think it’s a good time to make the moment here in Nashville. I’m going to try and convince my mother to make a few trays of that fruit pizza for my band and crew. Maybe I’ll throw some out to the fans.”

Reach Cindy Watts at 615-664-2227, ciwatts.com or on Twitter . 

Main show at Broadway Stage at Fifth and Broadway

5:45 p.m. – 6 p.m.    Main Show Starts with remarks from Mayor David Briley and National Anthem from Jason Eskridge and Fireworks

Video screens will be located in Riverfront Park, The Green at Riverfront Park, the Broadway Stage and at Ascend Amphitheater.

James Robertson Parkway from Third Avenue to Fifth Avenue (both north side and south side)

Deaderick Street from Third Avenue to Sixth Avenue (both north side and south side)

Commerce Street from Third Avenue to Fifth Avenue (south side)

Korean Veterans Boulevard (KVB) from Second Avenue to Eighth Avenue (both north side and south side)

Woodland Street- North First Street to North Second Street (both north side and south side)

Parking will be available at Nissan Stadium for $10. Lots E, D and P will open at 8 a.m. Lots A, B, C and F will open at 2 p.m. $40 for RV parking in Lot P. The Metro Courthouse Garage offers parking for $15; Nashville Public Library Downtown has parking for $14 ($10 after 5 p.m.); and Music City Center will have $15 parking.

Source: Tennessean.com

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