By By Penny Randall / staff writer
June 23, 2003
Meridian has a long tradition of pulling out all the stops on July Fourth and this year is no exception as the annual celebration will pay tribute to former U.S. Rep. G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery.
Besides a free concert the Meridian Symphony Orchestra will stage on the shores of Bonita's upper lake, the event also will feature speeches, fireworks and a fly-over by Naval Air Station Meridian pilots.
Connie Royal, cultural affairs coordinator for the city of Meridian, said she is excited about this year's concert and celebration slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Independence Day.
Details about the celebration officially called Cellular South Fourth of July Pops Concert and named one of the Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events for July were expected to be announced at a news conference today at Union Station.
Gates for the upper lake will open at 3:30 p.m. July 4. For those wanting to park in Bonita Lakes Mall parking lots, a shuttle service will run every 30 minutes starting at 5 p.m. and continuing until 7:30 p.m.
The same shuttles will pick up riders at the drop-off spot and take them back to the main mall entrance starting 10 minutes after the fireworks show is over.
Cellular South, the city of Meridian and the Meridian Symphony Orchestra are sponsoring the concert. For more information, call 485-1944.
PHILADELPHIA EVENTS
Meridian isn't the only place to celebrate the nation's birthday the Pearl River Resort plans to host a Red, White and Blue Fourth of July.
A concert, featuring Tyrone Davis, Mel Waiters and Sir Charles Jones, will kick off the weekend at 9 p.m. July 3 in the Silver Star Convention Center.
The next day, July 4, will
feature a spectacular fireworks show outside the Silver Star Hotel &Casino beginning at 9:30 p.m. The fireworks show is free to the public.
Tickets for the concert can be bought at the Silver Star box office or charged by phone at (866) 447-3275.