Published: July 02, 2008 06:33 pm      

Independence Day Celebrations

Freedom Festival at Boat Ramp

Freedom Festival, a nighttime community firework display sponsored by The Orange Leader, will begin at 9 p.m. July 4, at the City of Orange Boat Ramp. For information, call 409-883-3536.

No parking is allowed on Harry Reed Avenue, except for boaters wishing to launch their boats. Guest should bring lawnchairs, blankets and bug spray. Alcohol is not allowed, however, cold beverages and snacks are welcome. The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce will sell snow cones.



July 4th singing at Harvest Chapel

Harvest Chapel, 1305 Irving St. in West Orange, will celebrate Independence Day with a gospel singing at 7 p.m. July 4. Area musicians are invited to participate. A barbecue picnic will follow. For information, call 882-0862.



Fireworks display in Deweyville

DEWEYVILLE — First Baptist Church Deweyville will host a fireworks display at dusk July 4, at the Baseball Park on Hwy. 12. Event includes food and fellowship. For information, call 764-3809.



Shangri La Open on Fourth of July Holiday

The gates of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center in Orange will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 4. Standard admission rates will apply. Free parking is available at the Lutcher Theater parking lot, 707 Main Avenue, Orange, Texas, with free shuttle service to Shangri La offered every 15 minutes.



July 4th on Lakeshore

PORT ARTHUR — The city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College-Port Arthur, KBTV-4 and Motiva Expansion Project will present fireworks over the Intracoastal Waterway at 9 p.m. Friday, July 4.

Activities will be in the Carl A. Parker Multipurpose Center, 1800 Lakeshore Drive, from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Entertainment will include Driftwood Quartet, Sweet Adelines, exerts from “The Music Man,” Orange Community Band, Dwight Wagner and Roxane Gray, Krista Courts and Hillary Gray, Linda Neal, Phil Guidry and Tom Neal.



Symphony to play in Beaumont

BEAUMONT — The Symphony of Southeast Texas will perform at the city of Beaumont’s Fourth of July celebration at Riverfront Park, Friday, July 4. The park, located at Main Street in downtown Beaumont, will open at 5 p.m.

The group 9 Station Drive will play at 6 p.m. and Doyle Brahmall will perform from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

The Ground Rush Skydiving group out of Nome will provide a skydiving demonstration with up to four jumpers. The demonstration will include pyrotechnics and other fanfare. Watch the skies around 6:30 p.m. for these jumpers.

The Southeast Texas Veteran's Service Group will provide the color guard and a 21-gun salute.

The evening will conclude with a fireworks display accompanied by patriotic music. There will be no admission charge for attending the activities in Riverfront Park or the Symphony in the Julie Rogers Theatre.