PADUCAH, KY - The Paducah Riverfront will be booming in more ways than one this year on the 4th of July.

Families are invited to the riverfront for the Independence Day Celebration on Thursday, July 4. The City of Paducah has an evening of family fun with food, fireworks and free concerts planned.

Entertainment on Wilson Stage includes:

 · Dukes of Dixie: Dixieland Jazz Combo at 6:30 pm.

 · Paducah Jazz Ensemble: Big Band Jazz at 7:00 pm.

 · Market House Theater Tribute to America at 8:15 pm.

 · Paducah Community Band: Concert Band at 8:30 pm.

 · National Anthem/Fireworks at 9:15 pm.

Vendors will be selling food, desserts and toys starting at 5:30 pm; and just in case you forget your insect repellant, members of the Four River Church will be handing it out. The Paducah Elks Club is conveniently providing a diaper changing station so parents are encouraged to bring the youngsters.

Fireworks are set to ignite around 9:15 pm with the display being discharged from a barge provided by Pine Bluff Materials. The tug and buffer barge are provided by McGinnis/National Maintenance. If a thunderstorm is in the area at the scheduled time, the display will be delayed until the weather clears. The Paducah Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard will be on scene to provide additional safety.

The Dixieland Jazz Combo, directed by Doug Van Fleet, is a New Orleans-style jazz band that incorporates Blues and Ragtime musical styles. It's a small ensemble that plays popular tunes such as When the Saints Go Marchin' In. The Paducah Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Ron Roberts will play the American jazz style associated with the jazz and swing era of World War II. It's a larger group of musicians that play tunes made popular by conductors such as Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman. The Paducah Community Band is a non-marching ensemble led by Director Kara Boyd that will set the mood prior to the fireworks by playing popular patriotic music.

New this year at 8:15 pm, youth in grades 2 through 9 from Market House Theater will provide a short performance focusing on the Preamble to the Constitution.

The City of Paducah says boaters may use the Broadway entrance to the river but must remove all vehicles by 4 pm. The city recommends trucks and trailers park in the lot on Broadway and Jefferson Streets. The city's courtesy dock will be closed to the public.

Due to the Riverfront Redevelopment Project, Schultz Park and the former Executive Inn property will be closed to spectators and vehicles during the celebration. The parking lot in front of the Julian Carroll Convention Center and the Expo Center will be available for general parking.

At 4 pm, the flood wall entrances at Jefferson, Broadway and Kentucky Avenue will be limited to pedestrians only. Also, Water Street behind the Carson Center, Kentucky Avenue at Marine Way and Broadway at 2nd Street will close to vehicles at 6 pm. Broadway and Kentucky Avenue at 3rd Street will close to traffic in addition to Jefferson at 2nd Street.

The city would like to remind folks that pets are allowed at city-sponsored community events such as the Independence Day Celebration; however, for the public's safety, the City's dog ordinance lists three requirements. The dog must be:

· Licensed by McCracken County Animal Control or by any other state or county.

· Restrained by a leash or other lead that is no longer than three feet.

· Restrained by a muzzle.

For additional information you may phone the Paducah Parks Services at 444-8508 or visit them online at the link provided below.

On the Net:

Paducah Kentucky Online