Celebration under the Stars moves to McKnight Park on The Murfreesboro Post

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Celebration under the Stars moves to McKnight Park

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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer

Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 7:18 am

Celebration under the Stars moves to McKnight Park | Celebration Under the Stars, Parks & Rec, MTSU, Jeni Brickman, Tom Tozer

After a decade at MTSU, Celebration Under the Stars will light up the sky over McKnight Park this year. TMP File Photo

After spending 11 years at MTSU, the Celebration under the Stars returns to a park this year.

“The city and Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department are excited about hosting this year and bringing the event back to a park setting,” said Jeni Lind Brinkman, MPRD Program Coordinator.

Before Murfreesboro’s premier Fourth of July celebration made its home on the intramural fields at MTSU, it was held at Old Fort Park. This year the celebration will be held at McKnight Park next to SportsCom.

MTSU no longer has the space available as the intramural fields are the future site of a couple new buildings.

“That entire area will be staging area and construction for the student union and new education building,” MTSU spokesman Tom Tozer said.

Construction is just in the beginning stages with site preparation work. The education building will be started this fall and the new student union will start in spring 2010, Tozer said. The buildings should be completed sometime in 2012.

With MTSU off the table, Brinkman said MPRD looked into many venues for the celebration. McKnight Park was finally chosen because of “its capacity potential, available parking, and access to other large parking areas such as State Farm, Krogers and surrounding neighborhoods to view the fireworks from the comfort of their backyards.”

And the fun will start earlier in the day this year.

The SportsCom will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for a pool party, games and prizes at a cost of $2 for youth and seniors and $3 for adults.

Free, family friendly fun at the Celebration Under the Stars starts at 5 p.m. and fireworks will light up the sky at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 4th.

From 5-8p.m., there will be games and activities for the kids, including inflatables and face painting, Brinkman said.

“At 8 o’clock, following the presentation of colors and singing of the national anthem, the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra will present a program of traditional patriotic tunes and inspirational classics,” she added.

For safety purposes, organizers would like to remind everyone pets, alcoholic beverages, cooking grills and personal fireworks or sparklers are not permitted on the celebration site.

In addition, banners and signs from outside groups will not be allowed on the grounds. Families are encouraged, however, to bring picnic baskets, lawn chairs and blankets for picnicking on the grass.

Concessions will be available from the SportsCom, along with various food vendors.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under Celebration Under the Stars, Jeni Brickman, MTSU, Parks & Rec, Tom Tozer

Member Opinions:

By: diddlede on 6/2/09
Good luck on parking on State Farm property as they will not even let you walk on the right-of-way without running you off. Many people in the area have experienced their "good neighbor" attitude.

By: soon2b6 on 6/3/09
Thanks for moving it up by all of the "Rich Folk" who are now planning there backyard parties and need not worry about parking. Congrats Rich Folks and enjoy the show!

By: KAZ on 7/4/10
Soon2b6, I didn't realize the "poor folk" had rights to a firework show that, by the way, would never happen without the taxes all those "rich folk" pay that fund it. Hmmmm, there's a thought! How about just being thankful there is a FREE firework show that our city funds and provides instead of complaining that it wasn't delivered to your backyard?