July 4 comes early to Fort Benning with annual celebration
The July 4 celebration is coming to Fort Benning more than a week early with games, entertainment, free children's activities, military demonstrations and other events.
It kicks off at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 24, with activities on York Field in front of McGinnis-Wickam Hall . Activities gets underway after the Silver Wings Parachute Exhibition Team delivers the American flag and the Rangers will conduct a high-speed insertion and extraction exercise from the sky.
Sponsored by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, the celebration is held early before soldiers go home to share the holiday with their families. Soldiers normally enjoy a four-day pass for the Independence Day holiday.
Kristian Bush, half of the platinum-selling country music duo Sugarland, will perform solo on the Ranger Joe’s Stage at York Field. The opening act will be Donovan Keith & The Funky Feat along with the Maneuver Center of Excellence Band.
At the end of the evening, one of the largest fireworks displays in the Chattahoochee Valley with a patriotic music medley from the MCOE Band will be held. If the weather is bad, it will be rescheduled for Sunday, June 25.
In addition to the free games and entertainment, there is a two-day carnival on nearby Gardner Field with 20 rides for all ages. It runs from 4-10 p.m. Friday, June 23 and 3-11:30 p.m. Saturday, June 24. A one-day wrist band is $25 per person but $15 for active duty service members in uniform or those with an ID. Tickets for individual rides are 25 tickets for $25.
Food vendors will have plenty of hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, barbecue, Mexican food, funnel cakes, ice cream, Hawaiian shaved ice, popcorn, lemonade and other treats for sale. Food vendors won’t take money at the event. You will need tokens values at $1 each. You may return unused tokens for cash. You also may purchase them early from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekdays at MWR headquarters in Building No. 228 at 7370 Kilgore St.
There also is a Kia Soul given away by Columbus Kia Autosport to an active duty service member or spouse of an active duty service member. Registration is at benning.armymwr.com
The 34-foot Airborne training towers at Eubanks Field will be operated by the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment from 4-7 p.m. Saturday. The Airborne School will determine if your child qualifies to jump.
The event is open to the public. If you don’t have a military ID, you may enter the post at the Interstate 185 gate with no problem. Everyone in the vehicle must have a state or federal-issued photo ID.
This story was originally published May 31, 2017 at 6:53 PM with the headline "July 4 comes early to Fort Benning with annual celebration."