Throughout the length and breadth of this country American’s will be celebrating Independence Day with gusto this year. There will be cookouts, parades, concerts and fireworks – even the occasional turtle.
Let’s start out west, way out west on Hawaii’s Kohala Coast. That’s where the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows are throwing a free community gathering celebrating Hawaiian green sea turtles, or Honu. At Turtle Independence Day they’ll be releasing the threatened animals into the vast Pacific, this after a traditional Hawaiian ceremony. Since 1989 the hotel has gotten juvenile Honu from Oahu’s Sea Life Park, raised them about three years in saltwater ponds and then released them into the sea. Sure, Turtle Independence Day is a bit offbeat when it comes to a Fourth of July celebration, but a lot of folks think it’s in perfect concert with what this country should be all about.
Some 2,400 miles west by northwest there’s more Fourth of July harmony as the San Francisco Symphony strikes Gold Medal Music. The 8pm performance of its annual Independence Day concert features a sports-themed repertoire – this in anticipation of the London Olympics. The program will be followed by a fireworks spectacular. All of this happens at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View.
More fireworks and more music, this time emanating from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. A Capitol Fourth starts at 8pm and is hosted by TV personality Tom Bergeron. The National Symphony Orchestra sets the tempo for the evening, with help from folks like Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara, country music star Josh Turner, R&B superstars Kool & the Gang and Glee’s Amber Riley.
The bash celebrating America’s 236th birthday is capped off with a show-stopper: Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, replete with cannon fire and fireworks. If you can’t be there, see it on PBS.
(Image: puuikibeach)
