Abingdon is Celebrating Independence Day Extravagantly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 15, 2017

Contact:  Amanda Leslie Livingston

                Marketing Manager

                Abingdon Convention & Visitors Bureau

              

                                

Abingdon is Celebrating Independence Day Extravagantly

ABINGDON, Va.—On Saturday, July 1, 2017 downtown Abingdon will be alive with an All-American Independence Day Extravaganza. This free event takes place at the Abingdon Market Pavilion and along Remsburg Drive in downtown Abingdon. Free activities include a watermelon eating contest, a kids’ craft area, historical reenactors, block party with a foam pit, stilt walkers, antique tractor show, blues concert, and firework finale. Food trucks will be present to provide concessions.

At 4:00 p.m. the festivities begin with a watermelon eating contest for those ages 5 to 18. Just like any good watermelon eating competition, no hands or other unique equipment is allowed to be used. Potential contestants should arrive at 3:30pm to sign up, accompanied by their parent or guardian.

Paper Moon Studio will be hosting the Kids’ Craft area from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. Kids of all ages can participate in creative craft projects for free. Activities at the craft area include a drawing mirror, yard games, and rotating art projects every hour.

From 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., historical reenactors will be celebrating Abingdon’s rich Revolutionary War history and influence. Join the reenactors at Fields Penn Lawn (corner of Remsburg Drive and Cummings St.) to learn about the Overmountain Men and their victory at King Mountain.

The block party and foam pit begin at 5:00 p.m., just an hour before Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin takes the stage at Abingdon Market Pavillion to kick off the free blues concert. Bob has played on several Grammy-winning recordings, won numerous W.C. Handy/Blues Music Awards for his playing and producing, and is a “Keeping The Blues Alive” award recipient.

At 7:15 p.m., The Nighthawks will take the stage. Mark Wenner, Paul Bell, Johnny Castle, and Mark Stutso make up the 21st-century version of the legendary American roots band.

To finish out the night of blues, Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin will join The Nighthawks on stage to play a special Muddy Waters tribute.


The entire extravaganza will end in true American style with a firework finale at 9:15.

All activities will take place on Remsburg Drive in downtown Abingdon, either at the Fields Penn Lawn, the Abingdon Market Pavilion or along Remsburg Drive. Public parking is available in the Municipal Lot off of Main Street, or on the street as available.

For more information about the free activities and the bands performing visit abingdonmusicexperience.com.

Photos available at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pd3ag9odowvvi8t/AABJ1F3ZDd4y5rQU0F_M5I8Ka?dl=0

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