Communities to celebrate with fireworks, activities

Faulkner County communities have a variety of events planned over the weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July.

A free celebration in Conway open to the public today will be held by The Rock Solid Church. Games for children, relay races and free hot dogs and hamburgers will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fifth Avenue Park.

Centennial Valley Country Club will offer a members-only fireworks display at dark. Members can fill up on barbecue while watching the fireworks for $13.95 for adults and $8.95 for children 8 and under. To make reservations, call 329-2528. Members can also eat lunch, including hamburgers, polish sausage, fixings and watermelon by the pool from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Members do not need a reservation and the cost of lunch is $7 for adults and $5 for children 8 and under.

Conway Country Club will have games and activities all day for its members and end with a fireworks display at dark.

The city of Greenbrier will provide its Old Fashioned Fourth of July Festival and Fireworks at its baseball fields on Garrett Road, along with sponsors Y107 Country Music Station, Greenbrier Service Center, Mad Max Fireworks, First Arkansas Bank and Trust, LinnPrint and the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton.

Greenbrier Mayor Melton Cotton said the city has held the fireworks display every year for about 10 years.

"We always have a big turnout, and it's gotten bigger every year," Cotton said.

Beth Hodges, Y107 Account Executive and coordinator for Y107's part of the festival, said the radio station was involved with the fireworks display last year.

"We helped some last year, and this year we were invited to come up and help bring a festival to the fireworks," Hodges said.

The free admittance festival starts at 4 p.m. and will include food vendors, product vendors, old-fashion games, martial arts demonstrations, a King of the Mountain inflatable game, karaoke and a performance from country music recording artist, Singletree. Door prizes will be given away, including an OCE 35-page per minute copier from Linn Print and a Samsung 42-inch plasma screen TV from Best Buy.

Hodges said Y107 and the other sponsors know the event will be fun for the whole family.

"We just want to provide something fun for Greenbrier and the surrounding communities," Hodges said. "The festival will be fun and have an old-fashioned flair to it."

The celebrations continue on Saturday in Enola and Conway. Enola will have its annual Fourth of July Fish Fry and Fireworks, hosted by the Enola Volunteer Fire Department and the City of Enola at Enola City Park. The fish fry begins at 6 p.m., with entertainment provided by The Robersons and the fireworks will start at dark.

In Conway, Salute The Heros, a benefit concert and auction for the local troops, will take place at Simon Park. The gates open at 11:30 a.m. The cost of admission is one Web cam for two adults, or $10 per person (only cash accepted). Military get in free with military identification. The Arkansas Army National Guard will provide activities including a rock wall and bass boat. Food vendors include Bears Den BBQ and Pepsi. There will be 11 concerts throughout the day and a silent auction.

Tina Scaggs, coordinator for Salute the Heros, said all money raised will be donated to the Arkansas National Guard Family Center and the Web cams will be shipped to the local troops overseas.

"This event really helps our troops and their families," Scaggs said. "A lot of patriotic things will be going on and it's going to be a lot of fun."