On the Town: Oklahoma's top July 4 celebrations and events

Happy Independence Day on Thursday!

It’s time to break out the red, white and blue and celebrate July 4, whether you’re joining your neighborhood parade, jumping in a local pool with family or attending community events. In today’s column, Here are a few community ones for the holiday and an event this weekend as we ALL wave our American flags this week.

Oklahoma City Zoo

The Oklahoma City Zoo is open on Thursday and offering a special and chill animal enrichment day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Zoo guests can see the wildlife enjoying bubbles, mud, wallows and more prepared by their caretakers, a news release noted. The activities are designed to encourage them to use their natural abilities, said Kimberly Leser, the zoo’s behavioral husbandry and welfare manager.

Activities start at 9 a.m. with the zebras, followed by the Asian elephants at 9:45 a.m., the African-painted dogs at 10:30 a.m., the Western lowland gorillas at 11:15 a.m., the cichlids at noon, the Galapagos tortoises at 1 p.m. and the cassowary at 2 p.m. Zoo admission gets you in to see all the activities. For information, go to okczoo.org .

Red, White, and Boom!

As this column has mentioned, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s annual Red, White, and BOOM! concert featuring patriotic music will be at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Scissortail Park downtown. Bring your lawn chair, blankets and/or beverages to enjoy the free concert.

LibertyFest

Edmond’s annual Fourth of July Festival, LibertyFest, includes a parade and fireworks on Thursday and a Song & Stripes 1940s Big Band Show on Wednesday.

Song & Stripes, featuring “Talk of the Town” orchestra performers has shows at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Edmond History Museum, 431 S Boulevard. For tickets go to edmondhistory.org .

The LibertyFest parade begins at 9 a.m. Thursday starting near Ayers Street and University Boulevard and winds through downtown Edmond. That night, enjoy fireworks from E.C. Hafer Park in Edmond (and visible for miles) beginning at 9:30 p.m. For a full list of LibertyFest details, go to libertyfest.org .

Celebration in the Heartland

The City of Moore’s Celebration in the Heartland will be from 2 to 10 p.m. Thursday in Buck Thomas Park, with live music and other activities and fireworks set to the music of the late Toby Keith in tribute to the Moore native and country star. For information, go to cityofmoore.com.

Looking ahead to the weekend

Joshua and Tove Lightfoot will bring their folk/bluegrass/country sound to the Arcadia Round Barn on Sunday.

The Lightfoot Family Band will perform an Elm Tree Concert at 1 p.m. beneath the shade tree at the barn, located on historic Route 66 six miles east of Interstate 35. The husband-wife team met during the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival more than 10 years ago and recently released their first album called “The Lightfoot Family Band Welcome Home.”

The Elm Tree series is nearly every week through Sept. 22, except during the Round Barn Rendezvous jam session the second Sunday of each month.

For information about the barn’s live music, call Joe Baxter at 405-833-1350.

Have an idea, item or event for On the Town? Email lillie.beth@yahoo.com.

Copyright © 2024 BridgeTower Media. All Rights Reserved.