Page 3 - 2018 ADG Pops on the River

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
POPS ON THE RIVER
SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2018 • 3K
Red, white and tune
Sweet sounds of freedom enliven celebration
favorite. The band was formed in 2012 by musicians from central and southwest Arkansas who met while attending Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. With 11 members, the band serves up a horn- infused mix of blues, R&B and classic rock tunes from the 1930s to today. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/TheBigDamHorns.
8 P.M. ★ LITTLE ROCK MAYOR MARK STODOLA AND ARKANSAS GOV. ASA HUTCHINSON ★ FIRST SECURITY AMPHITHEATER
Festival attendees will also hear from Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola and Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who are expected to say a few words expressing their thoughts about Independence Day and their gratitude to veterans. Born in Bentonville, Hutchinson took office in 2015. Stodola has served as Little Rock’s mayor since 2007.
OVERVIEW,
continued from page 1K
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will have its new mascot, Danger, at the event. Danger shows all the things kids and adults shouldn’t do while boating. The lessons he presents help keep everyone safe while boating. Danger will be in the dunking booth, so everyone can enjoy dunking him.
★ MILITARY ★
Pops on the River will continue its Military Appreciation Program, during which all military personnel — active and retired members and reservists — can receive special discounts and promotions during and after the event. Military members will need to check in at the gate for registration. They will receive a Military Appreciation Discount Card for themselves and their families. This card will provide special deals, including discounts on food and refreshments, at the event. Starting at 5 p.m., the first 100 military members who request a reserved seat in the amphitheater for the concert that evening will get assigned seating for free.
At one point during the night, attendees and event participants will take a moment to recognize members of their respective branch in the military and give an Armed Forces Salute with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Active and retired members of the military will be asked to stand and be recognized during the event.
★ MUSIC ★
Shawn Reed of 106.7 The Ride will be
the master of ceremonies for the main
8:30 P.M. ★ THE ARKANSAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ★ FIRST SECURITY AMPHITHEATER
The Arkansas
Symphony Orches-
tra will close the
evening’s musical
performances with
angelic renditions
of classic American
tunes in prepara-
tion for the Pops on
the River Fireworks
finale. Joining the
orchestra to belt out
the national anthem will be Jarod “J-Rod” Matheney, a Conway-based musician who has performed the national anthem for the Arkansas Travelers and the Memphis Red- birds. At 9:30 p.m., shrieks and bangs will join the soundscape when fireworks light up downtown.
stage. Reed started in radio as a promotions intern in his hometown of Milwaukee back in the fall of 2000. He enjoys getting out into the community to interact with listeners. Since arriving in Little Rock, Reed has wasted no time getting to know The Natural State.
Weekend adventures to Petit Jean State Park, trips to Fayetteville to call the Hogs and finding the best spot for a cup of coffee are all parts of Reed’s experiences in his nearly two-year run here in town.
In addition to his love of running and sports, Reed has a huge spot in his heart devoted to area four-legged friends. Just a few months after his arrival in central Arkansas, he helped start up Wet-Nosed Wednesdays, a weekly video posted to social media spotlighting an adoptable pet at the Little Rock Animal Village. Listeners can hear Reed from 2-7 p.m. weekdays on 106.7 The Ride.
Musical acts include Kemistri, featuring Nicky Parrish; The Big Dam Horns; and the evening’s finale, a performance by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Philip Mann.
★ FIREWORKS ★
Along with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, celebrate the nation’s independence with the Pops on the River Fireworks finale over the Arkansas River. This year’s show will include Rainbow Bridge barrage units, which form a rainbow of colors in the sky that are reflected in the river below. This year’s fireworks display is sponsored by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
By Sarah DeClerk
SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
Ever since Francis Scott Key penned “The Star-Spangled Ban- ner” in 1814, music has united America and brought tears to the
eyes of folks across the country. Each year, Pops on the River continues that great tradition by offering a variety of patriotic performances, from contemporary tunes to heartwarming classics. Read on to learn about the 2018 lineup.
3-5 P.M.
★ MUSIC FROM 106.7 THE RIDE ★ NEW COUNTRY PAVILION PLAZA
Shawn Reed of 106.7 The Ride New Country will be this year’s master of cere- monies. A Milwaukee native, he began leav- ing footprints across The Natural State as soon as he arrived in 2016. The avid runner completed his 11th half marathon at the Little Rock Marathon in March. The Ride will broadcast live from Pops on the River from 3-6 p.m.
6 P.M. ★ KEMISTRI, FEATURING NICKY PARRISH ★ FIRST SECURITY AMPHITHEATER
Drawing in-
spiration from
reggae, blues, hip-
hop and many other
genres, Kemistri
touches hearts and
lifts spirits, focusing
on music as a uni-
versal language and
a tool for global
healing. The band will
be joined by singer
Nicky Parrish, who hails from Little Rock. With her powerful vocals, Parrish is a BET Apollo Live winner and six-time Amateur Night Apollo winner. These performers are sure to enliven the crowd with their dynamic energy and eclectic sounds.
7P.M.★THEBIGDAMHORNS★ FIRST SECURITY AMPHITHEATER
Named after Little Rock’s Big Dam Bridge, The Big Dam Horns are a local
Jarod“J-Rod”Matheney
Nicky Parrish
Fireworks for freedom
Giving meaning to the celebration
By Emily Partridge
SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
Independence Day is associated with family, friends, fun and fireworks. It’s possible that due to the attention given to the act of celebration and not
the reason for the festivities, the focus of the day and its message get lost. Men and women of the United States Armed Forces deserve to be recognized on the Fourth of July, and that is what Pops on the River tries to hone in on.
Amanda Copley, Arkansas Democrat- Gazette marketing and events director, said Pops on the River has multiple activities and benefits that focus on those in the mil- itary, recognizing them for their dedication and sacrifice.
“We wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the services of our armed forces and the commitment they have made to our free- dom,” she said. “We are putting a special focus on these men and women with our Military Appreciation Tent and event cards, as well as our Armed Forces Salute later in the program.”
Copley added that the Military Appreci- ation Tent is featured annually at the event and is located near the main entrance. Here, military personnel can register and receive a discount card that can be used at many of the vendors at the event. She said the benefits and recognition do not stop there.
“We offer reserved seating for military personnel, as well as koozies and other fun items to give away as supplies last,” she said. The first 100 members who request a reserved seat in the amphitheater for the concert that evening will get assigned seat- ing for free.
“We are also excited to host an Armed Forces Salute during the Arkansas Sym- phony Orchestra’s performance, as well as our Salute to America, where we will have hundreds of American flags in the audience that will be waved in unison at a special time in the program.”
While military personnel will assuredly be shown respect and appreciation, Copley reflected on what members of the nation’s armed forces mean to her and why they deserve special recognition.
“When we think about these service men and women, one word always comes to mind — sacrifice. We are not always aware of the sacrifice our military members and their fam- ilies make to safeguard us and to ensure our way of life,” she said. “We do, however, reap the benefits of these efforts, and it is import- ant not to take them for granted. That is why we at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette are proud to recognize and celebrate our military community on this Fourth of July.”
Whether it’s by a simple handshake, words of gratitude or any other expression of gratefulness, the service men and wom- en of the United States will surely feel ap- preciated at Pops on the River. Copley said she hopes these prized members of society enjoy the event.
“I hope they are able to enjoy this day, celebrating the Fourth of July, and also see how much the community has come together at Pops on the River to enjoy fun, food, music and, most of all, our freedom,” she said.
While friends and family gather around the Arkansas River for some fireworks and fun, it is important to remember the mean- ing behind the July Fourth celebration and those who helped bring about the occasion in the first place.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
City of Little Rock
Little Rock summers make lifelong memories. Located in the heart of Arkansas, the capital city offers charm, hospitality and its own
blend of new Southern style just waiting to be explored. History runs deep at the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and Visitor Center. Nine young students boldly crossed racial boundaries in 1957, integrating the school. Little Rock is home to six destinations along the new U.S. Civil Rights Trail that spans 14 states, and the high school is designated as a Top Ten trail site. Little Rock has experienced a recent wave of wonderful new attractions nestled in the city’s many unique neighborhoods. Visitors can tour the Clinton Presidential Center, visit the nation’s only purse museum or explore a science, technology, engineer- ing and math museum — just a few of the many unique experiences Little Rock offers.
The city is creating quite a stir with its restaurant scene. From family-owned land- marks and traditional Southern cuisine to farm-to-table and artisanal fare, there is something for everyone. Visitors can explore the award-winning distillery, craft breweries
and wineries with the Locally Labeled pass- port. Many are located along the downtown electric-streetcar routes. Outdoor enthu- siasts will enjoy the Arkansas River Trail, a 17-mile loop along the Arkansas River that features the Big Dam Bridge, North America’s longest pedestrian and bicycling bridge. Also on the trail is Riverfront Park, a 33-acre urban spread featuring La Petite Roche — for which the city is named — the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden and River Lights in the Rock, three downtown bridges that provide dazzling light shows each night.
The pleasant surprise of Little Rock allows those who find themselves here this summer to see why life is better with a Southern accent.