Brought to you by Culver’s, Ho-Chunk Bingo and Casino, and Pepsi, the Fourth of July Celebration is the first of its kind in Portage. The day includes a parade, kid’s games and facepainting, Concert in the Park, all followed by fireworks over the Wisconsin River.
The parade will begin at 3pm at the corner of Adams and Cook Street in front of Portage Center for the Arts. The route will continue west along Cook Street through downtown and travel to Pauquette Park and end here.
The parade will honor area veterans along with the remembrance of Sgt. Daniel Thompson, son of Parade Marshal Lisa and Bob Thompson. The parade will feature Miss Wisconsin sponosred by the Business Improvement District, the Milwaukee Brewer Racing Sausages sponsored by Malone’s State Farm Insurance, Dual County Community Band sponsored by the Portage Lions and Portage Rotary, and the University of Wisconsin-Marching Band sponsored by AMPI. The band will give a smaller version of their ’Fifth Quarter’ performance at Pauquette Park following the parade, lasting approximately 20 minutes.
The Concert in the Park beginning at 6:30pm is an annual free event in which the Chamber of Commerce brings the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra to play at Pauquette Park. This year the orchestra plays its Salute to our Veterans Performance. Enjoy the music and save room for some Culver’s custard while sampling food from local vendors. Stick around for fireworks after the orchestra at dusk.
Concert playlist:
Smith ... Star Spangled Banner
Bernstein ... Candide Overture
*Arr. Cavacas ... A Star Spangled Spectacular Sung
Rockwell Reflections ...V. Andante maestoso: Peace Corps
Gershwin ... Summertime from Porgy & Bess
Lloyd Webber ...“Think Of Me” from “Phantom”
Irving Berlin ...God Bless America with Soprano soloist: Amanda Huddleston
Intermission
Steinmetz ... 32nd Division March
Lowden ... Armed Forces Salute
Tchaikovsky ...1812 Overture
Sousa ...Stars and Stripes Forever
* tunes include Mary’s a Grand Old Name, Give my Regards to Broadway, Forty-five Minutes from Broadway, Yankee Doodle Dandy, You’re a Grand Old Flag.
To honor Dennis Dorn for his years of service to the WCO – he will conduct the 32 Division March!
