Post Date: 07/02/2018 11:30 AM

Family-themed activities begin at 12:30 p.m.; Freedom Celebration Fireworks Show caps off the night

Mayor Mike Purzycki and Cultural Affairs Director Tina Betz said Wilmington is ready for an enjoyable Fourth of July celebration which kicks off at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park. Citizens are invited to this FREE event which will include local bands, food vendors, children’s games, tours of the Kalmar Nyckel, and other family-themed activities throughout the day. The highlight of the evening hours will be the return of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra (DSO), which will cap off the City of Wilmington’s Independence Day festivities with a celebratory concert of American music, followed by the traditional fireworks display over the Christina River.

The Symphony performance will begin at 8 p.m., to be followed by a spectacular fireworks show at about 9:30 p.m. Other events taking place along the Riverfront throughout the day will include Riverboat Queen and River Taxi cruises and live music at Constitution Yards.

“We are very pleased to welcome back the Delaware Symphony Orchestra to our annual Fourth of July commemoration,” said Mayor Purzycki. “Families and friends from across the City and around the region are in for a very special musical performance by the Symphony as we all come together as Americans to celebrate our Nation’s birthday. Bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy a wonderful day and evening along the river. ”

“We are excited to bring Delaware’s own, and only, professional orchestra, to the Christina Riverfront to celebrate July 4th with great American music, patriotic favorites, and of course, that all-American standby, 1812 Overture,” said DSO Music Director David Amado.

Full information on this program and the DSO season is available at delawaresymphony.org.

New to the festivities this year is a water filtration station courtesy of the Wilmington Department of Public Work’s Water Division. The station will offer festivalgoers an opportunity to fill up their personal water bottles throughout the night for free with filtered City-produced water.

TUBMAN-GARRETT RIVERFRONT PARK SCHEDULE FOR DAY AND EVENING

12:30 – 8:00 p.m. The public is invited to bring a blanket, chair, lawn games, and your own picnic. Local vendors will be on hand, as will local bands, children’s games, tours of the Kalmar Nyckel, and other family-themed activities. Music Performance Schedule for the day includes: To the Max (12:30-1:30 p.m.) Next Phase (2:00-3:00 p.m.) Jea Street, Jr. (4:00-5:00 p.m.) Jibaro con Tumbao (5:30-6:30 p.m.) 8:00 – 9:15 p.m. The Delaware Symphony Orchestra performs a celebratory concert of American music. 9:30 p.m. The July 4th Freedom Celebration Fireworks Show will conclude the evening.

RIVERFRONT DAY ACTIVITIES

You can also enjoy these additional activities during the day on July 4, brought to you by the Riverfront Development Corporation:

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Delaware Children’s Museum Riverwalk Mini Golf Kalmar Nyckel Tours 3:30 p.m. – 5:50 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. River Boat Queen BBQ Cruise Live Music at Constitution Yards River Boat Queen BBQ Cruise/Fireworks 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. River Taxi Wine Cruise River Taxi Wine Cruise/Fireworks

To learn more about the daytime July 4th activities along the Riverfront, visit the Riverfront Development Corporation at www.riverfrontwilm.com.

ROAD CLOSURES

Wilmington Police have announced a series of road closures along the Christina Riverfront in advance of the Independence Day festivities scheduled for Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park. Citizens are advised to plan ahead. If you choose to only attend the Delaware Symphony and Fireworks Show, you are advised to arrive before 8 p.m. and be prepared to stay until the fireworks have concluded. City Police will be present to ensure a smooth and safe commute for Riverfront patrons into and out of the celebration area. Street closures and traffic advisories for the event are as follows:

Rosa Parks Drive between Market and French Streets at Tubman-Garrett Park will be closed beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3.

The Market Street Bridge will be closed to pedestrian and motorized traffic from Water Street through to A Street from 8 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.

A Street from Market to Walnut Streets will be closed beginning at 8:30 p.m.

All roads exiting from Martin Luther King Boulevard into the Riverfront area, including South Madison Street, Tatnall Street, Market Street, Orange Street, West Street, and Walnut Street will be closed beginning at 8:30 p.m. in preparation for the Fireworks Show.

Traffic leaving the Shipyard Shops or Riverfront Restaurants Area by way of Madison Street at the end of the evening will be directed to exit along Stadium Drive and onto Beech Street and out Justison Street.

All roads will be re-opened at the conclusion of the Fireworks Show.

EVENT PARKING

Patrons are encouraged to park at the many different lots around the Orange Street and Market Street areas.

Take advantage of free parking at the Shipyard Shops, Frawley Stadium and at the Chase Center on the Riverfront

Visit the Riverfront Wilmington website for directions to these sites.

Please note that parking at restaurants along the Riverfront is for restaurant patrons ONLY.

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News and information from the Office of Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki

John Rago

Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Communications

Mobile: (302) 420-7928

Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov

Paul Ford Jr.

Communications Specialist

Mobile: (302) 530-2171

Email: plford@WilmingtonDE.gov



Dan Sanchez

Digital & Social Media Manager

Mobile: (302) 605-0026

Email: dsanchez@WilmingtonDE.gov