ShopKo Fireworks Celebrate Americafest July 4,
Downtown Green Bay

GREEN BAY, Wis. (June 29, 2004) – The ShopKo Fireworks Celebrate Americafest festivities are set to explode in Downtown Green Bay Sunday July 4th, with one of the largest fireworks displays in Wisconsin. More than 50,000 are expected to attend.

The event kicks off with an Old Fashioned 4th of July Ceremony at 1:00 p.m., as local patriots join together with Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt and other officials to ring the beautiful Liberty Bell replica on the Brown County Courthouse lawn, 100 S. Jefferson. Miss Wisconsin 2003, Tina Marie Sauerhammer, will attend the ceremony. The Green Bay native placed third in the Miss America pageant in Sept.

This ceremony will be followed by a special Sesquicentennial Salute to Veterans 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., celebrating “150 Years of Service” at the Neville Public Museum Parking Lot, 210 Museum Pl. The ceremony will honor the five
branches of service and highlight accomplishments over the past 150 years. Featured music will be the Allouez Village Band.

“This year we’ve added more inflatable games to the Prevea Children’s Area, and moved most of the west side activities to the Neville Public Museum’s parking lot,” said Kari Sliva, Celebrate Americafest Chairperson. “We feel this will better serve people attending the festival by giving them better access to the stages and food.”

The museum is open on the Fourth of July 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a special discounted $1 per person admission fee (5 and under free). A new exhibit “Beyond the Cleavers: Life in the 1950’s” opened recently. Additional features include “Hunters of the Sky,” and a new kid’s Discovery Room.

The spectacular ShopKo Fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m., lasting approximately 45-minutes and launching from the area just north of Leicht Memorial Park.

"ShopKo is pleased to continue our longstanding, successful community partnership with the city of Green Bay and Celebrate Americafest in providing the best and largest fireworks display in Northeast Wisconsin," said Jeff Vincent, ShopKo Stores spokesperson.

Midwest Communications and WIXX will present a special patriotic tribute to America to coincide with the ShopKo Fireworks this year, so tune into WIXX 101.1 FM as you watch the rocket’s red glare.

A total of four stages with live music featuring local bands will start after the opening patriotic ceremonies. The Regency Suites Stage on Main Street just east of the Ray Nitschke Bridge will feature Alter Ego rock band 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and the Groove Hogs blues/rock band from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The West Side Stage (Neville Public Museum lot) will feature Higher Ground rock band 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and RPM rock band 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Then the Green Bay City Band takes the stage 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Days Inn stage features the Blue Cats (Noon), Big Safari (3:00 p.m.) and Johnny Wad (7:45 p.m.)

The Prevea Children’s Area will include performances by Randy Peterson, clowns and magicians, and inflatable games from 1:30 to 8:00 p.m.

An exciting firefighter’s competition will be held 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. on Main Street. The Waterboard Warriors ski team will perform “Bungle in the Jungle” at 3:15 and 5:15 on the Fox River between Walnut and Main Streets. The Foxy Lady will have regular cruises throughout the day on the Fox River.

Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, and the whole family---and plan to join the fun in Downtown Green Bay.

A special thanks goes to ShopKo, WBAY, Midwest Communication, City of Green Bay, Regency Suites, Holiday Inn, Triangle Distributing, Good Humor Breyer’s, Prevea Clinic, Goltz Seering Agency, Days Inn, GreenBayNet, and Titletown Brewing Co.

Go to www.celebrateamericafest.com for more information.

River traffic and bridge closings: The port will be officially closed for the day to all commercial craft starting at 2:00 p.m. The Walnut Street Bridge and Ray Nitschke Bridge will not be raised for any watercraft from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Parking:
Free (unlimited time) public parking will be available in all City-owned downtown ramps and lots, and at all on-street meters and legal parking spaces. Although the City cannot endorse general event parking on private property, there are several large private lots located along Broadway, Monroe Avenue and elsewhere within the downtown area that will be unused on July 4 because those businesses will be closed. Historically, event attendees have been allowed to park in these lots free of charge without penalty or complaint from the owners.

Street Closures:

1. Washington Street and Washington Way will be closed to through traffic. Access to Days Inn Hotel will be maintained from the south side of the mall along Washington Street. Persons wishing to access Day's Inn must travel along Washington Street from the south and pass under the mall overpass. No vehicle will be allowed to access Day's Inn from Main Street.
2. Main Street will be officially closed to through traffic from Madison Street to Dousman Street. HOWEVER, access will be maintained only to the Main Street Ramp and JC Penney's catalog center until some time between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. After that time, crowd size gets too large and poses a safety hazard to pedestrians and moving vehicles, so the roadway is closed to vehicles.
3. Museum Way will remain closed all day. Only River's Edge Apartment residents and event vehicles will be allowed to access this closed street.