Strike up the band, watch the fireworks (and anvil shoot?)!

The Oak Ridge Community Band will be presenting its annual Independence Day concert Monday night, followed by the city of Oak Ridge's annual fireworks show.

In addition, fireworks and other fun events are scheduled in areas surrounding Oak Ridge.

Here's a roundup to help you in planning your day. Have fun and be safe!

Oak Ridge

The city of Oak Ridge is sponsoring its annual fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day once again. The fireworks will be shot off from A.K. Bissell Park on Monday, and are scheduled to begin at dark, around 9:45 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Community Band, now in its 78th year, will perform prior to the fireworks. The music is expected to begin at 7:30 p.m.  Anyone planning to attend the band concert is advised to bring a lawn chair or blanket for outdoor seating. Parking in the grass along Oak Ridge Turnpike between Robertsville Road and North Tulane Avenue is prohibited for this event, a city of Oak Ridge newsletter stated. The concert is free.

The music program will be directed by band conductor Shaun Salem and will include a variety of selections designed to inspire audience members on Independence Day, including Sousa’s “Washington Post,” Morton Gould’s arrangement of “Yankee Doodle,” Tom Knox’s “Armed Forces Medley 72,” Shaun Salem’s “Indivisible!” Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” and Samuel Ward’s “America, The Beautiful”

In addition, the band will perform James Christensen’s arrangement of “The Homefront: Musical Memories from WWII,” featuring “It’s Been a Long, Long Time,” “Over the White Cliffs of Dover,” “Thanks for the Memory,” “Bell Bottom Trousers,” “I’ll Be Seeing You” and “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.” Among other songs on the July 4 program will be Gary Gilroy’s “Three Stars of Tennessee,” Jay Chattaway’s “Parade of the Tall Ships,” and Rossano Galante’s “Beyond the Horizon.”

Tenor vocalist Brian Ensign will sing the national anthem and “America, the Beautiful” for Monday evening’s show.

To prepare for the day's festivities, the walking trails in A.K. Bissell Park will be closed beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday

As a reminder, the discharge of fireworks within Oak Ridge city limits is prohibited without a permit.

All city of Oak Ridge offices will be closed on Monday.

Oak Ridge Alliance Church

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs will deliver a Fourth of July speech at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Oak Ridge Alliance Church, 109 Raleigh Road. The church will offer free food, homemade ice cream free balloons, and guests are invited to bring chairs to watch the city of Oak Ridge fireworks.

Clinton

Come out Monday from 5 to 10 p.m. at Lakefront Park to enjoy "food trucks, games and best of all — fireworks," stated the message on the official city of Clinton website.

As stated on the official website, 865-Axe Throw will provide an axe throwing truck. The Game Truck will provide laser tag and video games. Backyard Bouncers will provide inflatable and water games. Little Ponderosa Zoo will provide a petting zoo with feed. Faith Promise Church will provide water. A press release stated the event is also planned to include food vendors and classic cars. Vendors are subject to change without notice. For more information, go to the official city of Clinton website or call the Clinton Parks and Recreation Department at (865) 457-0642.

Norris

Norris Lions Club presents the 2022 Norris Day with many different events and activities Monday. The club's official Facebook page lists them.

For event locations, look for signs on the street in front of Norris Middle School and on the Norris Commons.

• Norris Firecracker Road Fun Run for ages six and up will have six prizes. It begins on the Commons at 8:30 a.m.
• Register for the Kids' Dog Show at 8:30 a.m. Kids must be between four and 14 to show their dogs. Dogs in “Smallest Dog” category must be over six months old. Registration in front of Middle School near the circle.
• Posting of the Colors by Scouts Troop 73 and Anderson County High School Bugle Corps will be at 9 a.m.
• The KIds' Dog Show begins at 9:10 a.m. Awards given for “Best Behaved, “Best Trick,” “Smallest Dog,” “Largest Dog,” “Best Looking” and “Best in Show.” Awards given to Best Dressed in the Freedom Growl dog parade.
• Duck Race will be at 10 a.m. It is sponsored by Scout Troop 705 and is at the Norris Middle School lawn. Each winner receives a watermelon.
• Inflatables will be from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the Norris Middle School lawn.
• A water slide will be at Norris Middle School lawn from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
• Register for the Fun Run on the street in front of Norris Middle School at 10:15 a.m.
• One-mile fun run will be at 10:45 a.m. Divisions include ages six and under, seven to 10 years, 11 to 15 years, and ages 16 and over. First-, second- and third-place winners in each division need to remain for a photo shoot.
• Many wheel races are at 11 a.m. These races include tricycles, big wheels, wheelchairs and bikes with training wheels in these divisions: ages two, three, four, five and six. Two-wheel race for seven-year-olds and under will follow the many-wheel races. The events are on the street, in front of Norris Middle School. Helmets are suggested.
• Decorated Bicycle Parades for six year-olds and under and seven year-olds and up will be at 11:30 a.m. "The judges love bikes decorated by the children themselves! Encourage your children’s creative efforts and enjoy the results," a news release stated. The event is on the street, in front of Norris Middle School.
• Sack Races for individuals in these divisions, six-year-olds and under, seven to 10 year-olds, 11 to 15 year-olds, adult and child and adult and adult, will be on the commons at 12:15 p.m.
• Water balloon toss for all ages will be at 12:45 p.m. on the Commons.
• Water ball battles will be at 2 p.m. on the Commons. The charge is $20 per team.
• The evening program is at 5:30 p.m.
• A Concert on the Commons will be at 7 p.m. 
• Fireworks will be at 9:30 p.m.

Museum of Appalachia

While most Americans celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, the Museum of Appalachia marks the occasion with an old-fashioned “anvil shoot,” the museum's website states. Every Independence Day, the museum uses gunpowder to launch a 200-pound anvil hundreds of feet into the air. This tradition will continue this Monday.

Anvil shoots were once a common way for pioneers to commemorate holidays, elections, and other special occasions, an announcement from the museum stated.

The anvil shoot is the centerpiece of an all-day celebration that includes a national bell-ringing ceremony, flag procession, live music, Southern food, demonstrations from blacksmiths, beekeepers, dulcimer makers, spinners, weavers, rail splitters and more.

Anvil shoots will occur at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.

Kingston

Kingston will continue its annual "Smokin' the Water" event Monday.

Food and craft vendors will begin at 4 p.m.

• Dirt Floor Doctors perform on the stage at Kingston City Park at 4 p.m.
• C.J. Ausburn will perform on the stage at Kingston City Park at 6 p.m.
• Fairview Union will perform on stage at 8 p.m. at Kingston City Park.
• A fireworks show will begin at “zero dark 30” with a soundtrack broadcast on WIMZ 103.5.

For more information, go to the Kingston Parks and Recreation website or call (865) 376-1356.

Ben Pounds is a staff reporter for The Oak Ridger. Call him at (865) 441-2317, follow him on Twitter @Bpoundsjournal and email him at bpounds@oakridger.com. Barbara Gritzner, publicist for the Oak Ridge Community Band, contributed to this story.