FLORENCE – Mayor Steve Holt announced that July in Florence will be an amazing time. We celebrate America’s birthday in style and pay tribute to the father of blues with the W.C. Handy Festival. Quite simply, music is a part of everything we do, which is why it makes sense that the theme for this month’s Bicentennial festivities is music!
Yes, music will be in everything. Pat Burney, Chair of the Bicentennial Celebration Committee, has this to say, “From the three Handy Festival events the City is sponsoring to the spectacular Fourth of July celebration in conjunction with the Mayor/Council Office, KISS 102.7, and the Florence Department of Parks and Recreation, there will be music.”
Adding to the mix will be First Friday on July 6, along with open church archives and a church tour.
HERE’S THE SCHEDULE:
- Wednesday, July 4 – INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION –The Florence Fourth of July celebration will take place in McFarland Park and will feature vendors, along with family activities, from 1:00 – 4:00 PM, at Shelter #1 and on the beach lawn. Live entertainment will take place later in the evening, ending with a spectacular fireworks display starting at approximately 9:00 PM.
Friday, July 6, 5:00 to 8:00 PM – FIRST FRIDAYS –Downtown Florence
- Tuesday, July 17, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM – FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, open archives and church tour
Friday, July 20-Sunday, July 29 – C. HANDY MUSIC FESTIVAL
- Sunday, July 22, 6:30-8:30 PM – OPENING BICENTENNIAL CEREMONIES ‘N HARMONY WITH NATURE LITTER-FREE EVENT – held on the W. C. Handy Home & Museum Front Lawn, West College Street (Rain Location: Mt. Moriah PB Christian Life Center, West Irvine Avenue)
- Thursday, July 26, 6:30-8:30 PM – BICENTENNIAL BEALE STREET BLUES ‘N HARMONY WITH NATURE LITTER-FREE EVENT – held at Lewis Field, Florence (Rain Location: Burrell-Slater Gymnasium)
- Friday, July 27, 5:00-10:00 PM – RIVERSIDE BICENTENNIAL JAZZ ‘N HARMONY WITH NATURE LITTER-FREE EVENT – held at McFarland Park (Rain Location: Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum)
A full events calendar and list of performers of the Handy Festival
may be found at: http://www.wchandymusicfestival.org/festival.htm.
And remember the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is showing the HOUSE & HOME EXHIBIT on loan from the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, featuring the housing evolution of the United States. The exhibit will run through August 9. The KD Center is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission is free.
For a full list of Florence Bicentennial July events, visit: https://florence200.org/music/.
For your enjoyment, there are activities highlighting our rich heritage scheduled through December, 2018. Bicentennial souvenir items are available for purchase online or at the Mayor’s office located at 102 South Court Street.
https://www.facebook.com/florencebicentennial/ or https://www.facebook.com/events/147567779233422/
Media Release/Sandra Morgan/Executive Assistant to the Mayor
