Published: June 24, 2009 09:50 pm      

No fireworks in Orange on the Fourth

Celebrations on for Beaumont, Port Arthur, Lake Charles

For the first time in almost 25 years, the Orange Leader will not be sponsoring a fireworks show in Orange.

“The Orange Leader sponsored the Orange fireworks display for approximately 23 years,” Leader publisher Eric Bauer said. “During that time it grew from a fireworks display to a festival. That growth, combined with the related staffing needs and associated costs made me re-evaluate our role in the event. It simply outgrew us.”

Fortunately for Orange County residents, there are several alternatives, both here in Texas and across the Sabine River.

The city of Beaumont will be holding its annual Fourth of July celebration at the Riverfront Park at 805 Main St. starting at 5 p.m.; the celebration will feature a performance by the Bryce Shaver Band at 5 p.m., 9 Regina Richards at 6 p.m., skydivers at 6:30 p.m. and a 7:30 p.m. performance by Texas Renegade. The evening concludes with a performance by the symphony of Southeast Texas at 8 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m.

The Beaumont celebration is free and open to the public. For more information call the Beaumont Civic Center at 409-838-3435.

Further south, Lamar State College-Port Arthur is hosting an Independence Day celebration at the school’s Carl Parker Center at 7 p.m. July 4th. The celebration kicks off with the Orange Community Band in the Carl Parker Center, and the posting of the colors by the Port Neches VFW. There will also be a performance of “Annie Get Your Gun” featuring the Lamar State College Theater and Port Arthur Little Theater Players. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. over the Intracoastal Canal on Lakeshore Drive; the Port Arthur celebration is also free and open to the public.

Looking to the east, Lake Charles will be holding its 17th annual Red, White, Blue and You July 4th Celebration.

The Lake Charles festivities will kick of at 6 p.m. July 4th with a parade; according to the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau web site, parade participants are requested to be registered by Wednesday, July 1. Parade lineup begins at 4 p.m.

After the parade, there will be concessions and a patriotic program at the Lake Charles Civic Center Arcade Pavilion at 7 p.m. featuring Jay Ecker’s Bayou Jazz Kings Dixieland Band; the Lake Charles Community Band and the Louisiana Choral Foundation will also perform. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be moved to the Civic Center Coliseum. Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m., with the soundtrack simulcast on Gator 99.5 FM. Fireworks will be shot from a barge over the lake, according to the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau web site.

For more information on Lake Charles’ July 4th celebration, contact the Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau at (337) 436-9588.

“It's been our pleasure to work with City of Orange and Orange County employees, The Greater Orange Chamber of Commerce, fire and EMS personnel, advertisers and countless volunteers. For over two decades they made fireworks in Orange a great event,” Bauer said. “I hope a fireworks display will return to our community next July 4th.”



Erik Onstott is a reporter and page designer for the Orange Leader. He may be reached at 409-883-3571 Ext. 2616 or eonstott@orangeleader.com