How to Attend a Patriotic Concert

Fourth of July

Independence Day (4th of July in the United States) is a day for everyone to renew their sense of patriotic and national pride. Many people celebrate the fourth of July in various ways. Barbecues, cookouts, and setting off fireworks or going to a fireworks show are all popular. Another popular activity on Independence Day is to attend a patriotic concert. Patriotic concerts are often filled with familiar American patriotic music and songs, marches, as well as other popular and familiar standards. This article will show you step by step how you can find out about and attend or watch a patriotic concert.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• computer with access to the internet

1. To find out where to attend a patriotic concert (or to watch one on television) you will need to access the internet to conduct a little research. You will find that there are probably many concerts for you to choose from. During your research, remember to find out places and times of performances, as well as cost of tickets (if any - many patriotic concerts are often free events).

2. An outdoor concert

   Look up information about your local concert band or symphony orchestra to discover whether or not they are performing a patriotic concert, and if so find out where and when. Also keep in mind local colleges or universities that may have summer programs. Many patriotic performances are held in public places or in parks. See websites in additional resources for examples.

3. A Megachurch production

   In some areas of the country, and in the U.S. South in particular, you may find that many larger churches (especially megachurches) will be producing a patriotic concert. Year-round, many large churches and megachurches have large choirs (sometimes with two or three hundred people) and full-size orchestras primarily composed of church members. You can find out whether or not a local church is performing a patriotic concert by searching the internet or by visiting the websites of large local churches. Some churches take these performances out into the community, such as to a public park. So keep that in mind as well. See websites in additional resources for examples.

4. Pops Goes the Fourth

   If you do not plan to leave your home on the fourth of July, but still might like to enjoy a live patriotic concert, then you may turn to your television. Again, use the internet to research what stations may be broadcasting live performances of patriotic concerts. In particular you will want to look up information about the patriotic concert broadcast live from the nation's capitol in Washington, D.C., and the patriotic concert broadcast live by the Boston Pops Orchestra from the Esplanade on the Charles River in Boston. These are both very professionally done and quite popular, and they are typically broadcast live during the evening of the fourth of July. See websites in additional resources for examples.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that not all local patriotic concerts will actually be on the fourth of July. Some may occur a day or two before or after the date of fourth of July.

• If the patriotic concert you plan to attend is outdoors, remember to bring appropriate items and to keep a watch on the weather. If it is in park, remember to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, as well as some water.

Resources

• PBS - A Capitol Fourth, Live from the U.S. Capitol
• Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
• Example - I Love America Day - Vestavia Hills, AL
• Charlotte Symphony - Summer Pops
• UAB Summer Band - 4th of July Concert
• Dallas-Ft. Worth Area - Celebrate Freedom
• Hickory Grove Baptist - Charlotte, NC - Celebrate America