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Cities celebrate the 4th with fireworks and festivities

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Though rain has hampered the Fourth of July celebrations the past two years, Cedar Park and Leander are set to have big celebrations this year with plenty of games, entertainment and live music.

This year's Cedar Park Fourth of July event will run from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with the H-E-B fireworks presentation scheduled for 9:15 p.m.

The celebration, which is oriented toward families, includes kid activities such as face painting, air castles, sack races and special appearances by the Cedar Park Fire Department clowns and Dipsy Daisy the Clown.

This year there will also be portraits available by Old World Portraiture along with art projects by Abrakadoodle. While there are still the same activities offered from years past such as bingo, new activities have been added to this year's schedule, said Cedar Park Recreation Program Manager Tara Timm.

Games2U, which was part of this year's Cedar Park Heritage Festival, will provide video game adventures and laser tag. Timm said there will also be a rock climbing wall sponsored by Gold's Gym.

A washer tournament, presented by washerpit.com, will take place at 4 p.m. “I think [everyone] will really enjoy the video games and laser tag this year,” said Timm.

Also new this year will be games and prizes. The games are being presented by local sponsors. Timm said “there will be a little bit of everything for everyone.”

Food concessions will be open throughout the evening and offer hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones, cupcakes, cookies, drinks and many other treats. “Families can bring their own food [as well] if they want,” said Timm. H-E-B will also provide free watermelon at 6:30 p.m.

One of the biggest hits of the celebration over the years has been the live music and this year will be no exception. There will be music and announcements throughout the evening, with Band of the Hills providing live music from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Crossline, from Journey Bible Fellowship Church, will also perform throughout the night including an “After Glow” concert immediately following the fireworks display. “Everybody loves the live music,” said Timm.

Everyone can fight the heat throughout the day at Milburn pool, which will be open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The celebration has been a huge success in years past. The event has been rained out the last two years, however.

The city recommends that people park at Cedar Park High School, Cedar Park Middle School, Austin Community College Cypress Creek campus or the Goddard School of Cedar Park, all located near the park on Cypress Creek Road.

Milburn Park and Cedar Park Middle School are also recommended sites to watch the fireworks display.

For more information about the celebration or to view the schedule of events, call 401-5500 or visit www.cedarparktx.us.

The Glenn Collins Band is well-known in this area for their popular song called Liberty Hill. The lyrics talk about sights and sounds in the city just to the north and it mentions watching the Panthers play football on a Friday night.

This Friday the band will be in Leander for LibertyFest. Maybe they could rewrite the lyrics. Regardless, the band is just the tip of the iceberg of entertainment for the annual Fourth of July celebration in Leander.

The festival officially kicks off at 5 p.m. at the Crystal Falls Golf Club. Residents are asked to park at Leander High School and ride the free Capital Metro shuttle bus to the golf course. The shuttle service begins at 4 p.m.

The Glenn Collins Band will begin at 5:15 p.m. and play until 7:15 p.m. The Black Cat Choir - appropriately named for the popular fireworks - takes the stage at 7:45 and will perform until 9:15 p.m. and then an encore from 9:30 to 10 p.m. The city's fireworks display will last from 9:15 to 9:30 p.m.

The last shuttle back to the school from the golf course will be at 11 p.m.

There will be plenty for the kids, including an inflatable obstacle course, two moon walks, a giant slide, facepainting and other activities, most of which are provided by the many vendors who will be there.

Barbecue, soft drinks and water will be part of the concessions available. Contrary to prior years, coolers will be allowed - but only small coolers.

“We don't mind reasonably-sized coolers,” said Leander Parks and Recreation Director Steve Bosak. “We just don't want people trying to bring giant coolers onto the bus.” Also, folks may bring chairs and blankets.

Alcohol is prohibited.

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