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Salute to America back on track
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By Bob Watson
bwatson@newstribune.com
Two main music concerts and numerous other on stage entertainers, a “bigger, brighter and more spectacular” fireworks display than in previous years, and the annual parade are among the highlights of this year's Salute to America Festival, July 3-4, in downtown Jefferson City.
“Mike Kehoe and Friends” again will sponsor the fireworks display, even though Kehoe had announced this spring he wouldn't be able to do it this year because of the automobile business' financial conditions.
The featured performers will be Starship with Mickey Thomas and the FabForever Beatles tribute band.
Kehoe said his employees made him change his mind about fireworks sponsorship.
“We have a young man who is being deployed to Iraq ... and he came up to me and said, ‘Boss, we're not going to do this, this year?'” Kehoe reported. “And a bunch of the employees got around and said, ‘We've got to figure this thing out.' ...
“We thought this was an important year to stay involved, and we thank all our business partners that helped us.”
As in past years, the festival begins at 4 p.m. July 3 and continues through the July 4 fireworks display at dusk - about 9:30 p.m.
The parade begins at 6 p.m. July 3 and travels through the downtown area.
The Loethen family, representing five generations of military service, will serve as parade marshals.
And the Champlin Park High School Marching Rebels band, from the Champlin-Brooklyn Center-Brooklyn Park region northwest of the Twin Cities areas, asked to perform in the parade, as they head from Minnesota to a July 4 performance in St. Louis.
“We've got a lot of new things that we're excited about, and we think it's going to be bigger and better and stronger than ever,” said Jill Snodgrass, the annual festival's director. “The day-and-a-half format that we've settled on seems to be working out great.
“We love having the parade in the evening, when it's cooler, and being able to get two concerts in.”
Starship, with Mickey Thomas, provides the main concert at 7 p.m. Friday, ending in time for the annual fireworks display.
Thomas joined Jefferson Starship as lead vocalist 30 years ago, when Grace Slick and Marty Balin left the band they had helped create as Jefferson Airplane.
“They've had a long, long string of hits,” said John Hickey, the festival's entertainment chair. “It should be very entertaining.
“They perform all over the world and they're very, very popular. We're lucky to have them - I think they'll have a broad appeal.”
The FabForever Beatles tribute concert will be at 8 p.m. July 3.
“They're considered to be one of the better Beatles tribute bands in America,” Hickey said. “They look the part, sound the part, wear the costumes and put on a performance that's very similar to the Beatles in their hey-day.”
Both concerts are on the Capitol Main Stage, facing the South Lawn.
Four information kiosks will replace the one location that previously served the event.
“In those kiosks, we'll have this plasma (TV) signage, (with) a rolling screen showing all of the events that are coming up,” Snodgrass said, “(and) promos for our entertainment.”
“Mike Kehoe and Friends” again will sponsor the fireworks display, even though Kehoe had announced this spring he wouldn't be able to do it this year because of the automobile business' financial conditions.
The featured performers will be Starship with Mickey Thomas and the FabForever Beatles tribute band.
Kehoe said his employees made him change his mind about fireworks sponsorship.
“We have a young man who is being deployed to Iraq ... and he came up to me and said, ‘Boss, we're not going to do this, this year?'” Kehoe reported. “And a bunch of the employees got around and said, ‘We've got to figure this thing out.' ...
“We thought this was an important year to stay involved, and we thank all our business partners that helped us.”
As in past years, the festival begins at 4 p.m. July 3 and continues through the July 4 fireworks display at dusk - about 9:30 p.m.
The parade begins at 6 p.m. July 3 and travels through the downtown area.
The Loethen family, representing five generations of military service, will serve as parade marshals.
And the Champlin Park High School Marching Rebels band, from the Champlin-Brooklyn Center-Brooklyn Park region northwest of the Twin Cities areas, asked to perform in the parade, as they head from Minnesota to a July 4 performance in St. Louis.
“We've got a lot of new things that we're excited about, and we think it's going to be bigger and better and stronger than ever,” said Jill Snodgrass, the annual festival's director. “The day-and-a-half format that we've settled on seems to be working out great.
“We love having the parade in the evening, when it's cooler, and being able to get two concerts in.”
Starship, with Mickey Thomas, provides the main concert at 7 p.m. Friday, ending in time for the annual fireworks display.
Thomas joined Jefferson Starship as lead vocalist 30 years ago, when Grace Slick and Marty Balin left the band they had helped create as Jefferson Airplane.
“They've had a long, long string of hits,” said John Hickey, the festival's entertainment chair. “It should be very entertaining.
“They perform all over the world and they're very, very popular. We're lucky to have them - I think they'll have a broad appeal.”
The FabForever Beatles tribute concert will be at 8 p.m. July 3.
“They're considered to be one of the better Beatles tribute bands in America,” Hickey said. “They look the part, sound the part, wear the costumes and put on a performance that's very similar to the Beatles in their hey-day.”
Both concerts are on the Capitol Main Stage, facing the South Lawn.
Four information kiosks will replace the one location that previously served the event.
“In those kiosks, we'll have this plasma (TV) signage, (with) a rolling screen showing all of the events that are coming up,” Snodgrass said, “(and) promos for our entertainment.”
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Mac1974 wrote on Jun 10, 2008 8:55 PM:
I've never smelled any chronic at the capital. You'd be either brave or stupid to do that down there. "