Free admission to ballpark begins at 5 p.m.; evening includes amusements and a free movie
DAVENPORT, Iowa (June 29, 2015) - This Independence Day, the Quad Cities community will have the chance to enjoy the Red, White and Boom Fireworks show with free admission to Modern Woodmen Park along the Mississippi River on Saturday, July 4, when the venue recently voted the Class-A "Best of the Ballparks" will be open for a full evening of fun.
The gates of Modern Woodmen Park will open at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 4. The bounce houses in the K&K Hardware Kids Zone will be open for free. Beginning at 6 p.m., there will also be free family activities, including a scavenger hunt, face painting, crafts and an opportunity to write-a-letter to a soldier provided by the USO and Davenport Parks and Recreation. Event attendees may purchase concessions (no outside food and beverage) at the ballpark, as well as rides on the ballpark's amusements, including the Ferris wheel, Drop'N Twist, Space Camp and the newly expanded zip line.
"The Red, White and Boom Fireworks show is an annual summer highlight in the Quad Cities, and we are thrilled to welcome the Quad Cities community to watch the fireworks for free at Modern Woodmen Park," said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. "A full day of fun and celebration of the Quad Cities will be part of a great holiday weekend at the ballpark."
Modern Woodmen Park will host three consecutive nights of fireworks Thursday, July 2, through Saturday, July 4. Fireworks Thursday and Friday will each follow the River Bandits' 7 p.m. games against the Peoria Chiefs. Friday's show is presented by Smart Toyota of Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD.
The festivities on July 4 will also include the 6:15 p.m. showing of the movie, "Little Rascals," which will play on the video board at Modern Woodmen Park. At 8 p.m. there will be a proclamation read to celebrate the long history of the City of Rock Island and City of Davenport, and the importance of the Rock Island Arsenal in the Quad Cities region. The Red, White and Boom Fireworks show will begin at 9:30 p.m. over the Mississippi River with a show choreographed to a custom-made soundtrack on 96.9-FM 97X, which will be played through the public address system at Modern Woodmen Park. Following the fireworks will be a performance by Quad Cities local band Wicked Liz & the Belly Swirls.
While regular admission is free, luxury suites at Modern Woodmen Park can be reserved for $200 each. More information is available by calling the River Bandits at 563-324-3000.
More details about the Red, White and Boom Fireworks events are available at www.redwhiteboom.org.
UP NEXT: Until the end of the day Monday, June 29, fans may submit photos and nominations of their loved ones who are fighting, or have fought, cancer. From the nominations, 100 photos will be selected to assemble the numbers on the jerseys the River Bandits will wear on Stand Up To Cancer Night July 10, when a jersey auction will benefit Genesis Center for Breast Health. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: With the installation of the Ferris Wheel, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931, and this year the club is matching that effort by opening three new areas. A two-tiered special group deck immediately behind and overlooking the corn field opened last week. A new 11,000-square-foot concourse expansion down the third-base line will open in July. Finally, the club is expanding the children's play area by an additional 5,500 square feet down the right-field line. New rides will be announced upon completion of these new areas.
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