In an event that covers 17 city blocks, a host of entertainers - from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to live eagles - will share their talents for Jefferson City's Salute to America celebration.
The Fourth of July festival promises "something for everyone's interest," according to director Jill Snodgrass. Missouri's state Capitol will serve as the event's backdrop in the "beautiful, historic downtown," she added.
Snodgrass cited the festival's scenic downtown setting as one element that allowed Jefferson City to reap the accolade of "Most Beautiful Small Town" in Rand McNally's Best of the Road contest.
Within the picturesque locale, Salute to America offers attendees six different stages, including a variety stage on Madison Street and a youth performance stage on the corner of Madison and State streets, as part of the event's effort to "strive for balance," Snodgrass said.
Additionally, city-inspected food vendors will be dishing up fare on the 100 and 200 blocks of High Street, which is the result of a location change made last year, one of several changes to the 11-year-old celebration that Snodgrass characterized as "extremely positive."
Another outcome of the adjustment was the expansion of the ShowMe Missouri Life area in the Governor's Garden, which "... provides folks a chance to show off a little bit of everything from this great state," according to the event's website.
The Capitol Corn Toss Tournament will return this year in an encore from last year's popular debut, Snodgrass said. "We will bring back the $1,000 prize for the Corn Toss Tournament." Corn toss is similar to a bean bag toss and will be played in two separate amateur and professional competitions, Snodgrass said.
As far as the most popular events, Snodgrass identified the sand sculptor Dan Belcher and the Eagle Show as "most photographed" and "most majestic," respectively.
For evening enjoyment, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Bennie & the Jets, an Elton John tribute band, will perform on on July 3 and 4, respectively.
The celebration commences with the parade at 6 p.m. on July 3, which creates "an amazing feeling," Snodgrass said.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Thursday, July 3rd
4-5:30 pm
Live Entertainment on the EcoWater Stage Madison Street Stage
4-9 pm
Madison's Street Trattoria, Madison/High Street Beer Gardens
4-11 pm
Coca-Cola Taste of Missouri Food Court ,100 West High
4-11 pm
Budweiser Beer Garden with entertainment on the Riley Toyota-Scion Stage, Central Bank Lot
4 -11 pm
Missouri American Water Carnival Land, Monroe & Capitol
4-7 pm
Trapp Law Firm presents the SandTrapp, with Dan Belcher, World Champion Sand Carver, 100 Madison
6-7 pm
CenturyLink "America's Most Beautiful Small Town" Parade, High Street to Jefferson
7-8 pm
River Region Credit Union Little Mr. & Miss Independence Contest, Madison & High
7-7:30 pm
Jefferson City Community Symphonic Band Prelude, Capitol Main Stage
7:30-8:30 pm
Naught-Naught Agency Opening Ceremony, Capitol Main Stage
8:30-10 pm
Q106 Street Dance featuring Young Classics, Madison Street Stage and Rail Haven
8:30 pm
Capitol Entertainment (Brought to you by Riley Automotive Group): Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Capitol Main Stage
8:30 & 9:30 pm
Prison Ghost Tours, MSP at 115 Lafayette St., buy/tickets @ www.MissouriPenTours.com
Friday, July 4th
All day
Beautification team by Jefferson City Cleaning Solutions, Festival wide
10 am
Blue Star Memorial Dedication at JC National Cemetery on East McCarty
11 am-4 pm
CVB Discover Jefferson City Information Booth, 100 High Street
Missouri State Penitentiary Tours at MSP 115 Lafayette St. - on the hour; buy/tickets @ www.MissouriPenTours.com
11 am-7 pm
Heritage Stage by Our Savior's Church/Vine Concert Venue, Governor's Gardens
Jefferson Bank Honoring Heroes, 100 E Capitol
Joe Machens Capital City presents Absolute Sports, 300 E. High St.
R/C Race Park Short Course Showdown, Commercial Alley
Jeff City Parks & Rec Extreme Stage, 100 Monroe
Stunt Shows/Extreme Performances, High & Monroe
Carroll Rehma Motors Classic Car Cruise/Route 66, Broadway
St. Mary's Kid's Zone/Youth Performance Stage/A to Z Petting Zoo, 100 Madison Street
Show Me Missouri Life featuring Robinson Family Carvers, 200 E. Capitol
11 am-8 pm
Live Entertainment on the EcoWater Stage Madison Stage
Information Kiosks & Patriotic Merchandise, 4 locations
11 am - 9 pm
The SandTrapp: Trapp Law firm presents Dan Belcher, World Champion Sand Carver, 100 Madison
Eastside/Westside Business Associations, Avenue of the Americas, The Campaign Trail, 100/200 East High
11 am-11 pm
Missouri American Water Carnival Land, Monroe & Capitol
Coca-Cola Taste of Missouri Food Court, 100 W High
Noon - 9 pm
Madison's Street Trattoria & High Street Beer Gardens, Madison/High
2 -10 pm
Budwieser Beer Garden with entertainment on the Riley Toyota-Scion Stage, Central Bank Lot
3 & 5 pm
Missouri American Water Live Eagle Show, Capitol Main Stage
3 - 7 pm
JC Outdoors Capital Corn Toss Tournament, Off Jefferson Street
3 pm
J Pfenny's Hotdog Eating Competition, Madison Stage
7 pm
Pre-show Celebration featuring the Missouri American Water Live Eagle Show, Capitol Main Stage
Capitol Entertainment: Bennie and the Jets, Tribute to Elton John, Capitol Main Stage. (Brought to you by the Riley Automotive Group)
Dusk
Missouri Credit Union "Red White & Boom" by J&M Displays with music simulcast on NASH FM 100.1, North Stage
10 & 11 pm
Prison Ghost Tours MSP - 115 Lafayette St. Buy tickets @ www.MissouriPenTours.com
Saturday, July 5th
9 am
Missouri State Penitentiary 3-hour History Tour, 115 Lafayette St. Buy tickets @ www.MissouriPenTours.com
Tours at the State Capitol
11 am & 1 pm
Missouri State Penitentiary 2 hour History Tour, 115 Lafayette St. Buy tickets @ www.MissouriPenTours.com
11 am-4 pm
Missouri American Water Carnival Land Armband Day, Monroe & Capitol
Noon
The SandTrapp: Free sand carving clinic, Madison
4-9 pm
Downtown Festival District TOC (over 21 wristbands & cups available), High/Madison
Live music, 200 block High St.
SandTrapp Sand Carving on Display
ArtsStroll Vendors
Capital Corn Toss Tournament
5-10 pm
Missouri American Water Monroe & Capitol
Carnival Land - Armband Night
8 pm
SandTrapp Sand Treasure Hunt, Madison
7:30 & 8:30 pm
Prison Ghost Tours MSP- 115 Lafayette St. Buy tickets @ www.MissouriPenTours.com
9:30 pm
Ghost Hunt MSP- 115 Lafayette St. Buy tickets @ www.MissouriPenTours.com
Midnight
Prison Ghost Tours MSP- 115 Lafayette St. Buy tickets @ www.MissouriPenTours.com
STAGE SCHEDULE
Thursday - July 3
Beer Garden
4 pm Jumping at Shadows
6 pm Whiskey Anthem
8 pm Contagious
10 pm Squigglefish
Madison Stage
4 pm Starlight Memories Band
6 pm CenturyLink Parade
7 pm River Region Credit Union Little Mr & Miss
8 pm Q106.1 Street Dance featuring Young Classics & Rail Haven
Capitol Stage
7 pm JC Community Symphonic Band Honor Guard Post 1003
7:30 pm Opening Ceremony
8:45 pm Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Friday - July 4
Beer Garden
2 pm Double Down
3:45 pm DNA
5:30 pm Funky Butt Brass Band
8 pm Decadent Nation
Madison Stage
11 am JC Dance Academy
12 Noon Liberty Jazz
1 pm Show-Me Boot Scooters & Friends
1:45 pm Locks for Love
2:30 pm Paul Gregor
3 pm Hot dog eating contest
4 pm R2R
5 pm EJ Staxx from KC Reign
6 pm Solo District Music Group
6:30 pm Blackwater
Extreme Stage
11 am Intro/expo
11:30 am Chemical Mass
12:30 pm Kush Cloud Productions
1 pm Roller Derby Dames
1:30 pm Art of Martial Art
2 pm United FMX
2:30 pm Riot Skateboard Presents: July 4 Skateboard Competition
3:30 pm Art of Martial Art
4 pm United FMX
4:30 pm Roller Derby Dames
5 pm Full Throttle
6 pm The Penniless Profits
7 pm Rev Nation
Heritage Stage
11 am Robinson Family Chainsaw Carvers
12 Noon Cowboy Kenderick
12:30 pm Robert Roe - Native American Flute
12:45 pm Paublo Baum - Black Jack Pershing
1 pm Robinson Family Chainsaw Carvers
1:45 pm Ruben Bolten as Francis Scott Key
2 pm Liberty Jazz
2:45 pm Chainsaw Carver
3:15 pm Robinson Family Chainsaw Carvers
3:30 pm Cowboy Kenderick
4 pm Paublo Baum - Black Jack Pershing
4:15 pm Robinson Family Chainsaw Carvers
4:45 pm Robert Roe - Native American Flute
5 pm Murphy's Ford Band
5:45 pm Robinson Family Chainsaw Carvers
Capitol Stage
3 pm Missouri American Water Eagle Show
5 pm Missouri American Water Eagle Show
7 pm Missouri American Water Eagle Show
7:45 pm Bennie & the Jets, Tributre to Elton John