Soddy-Daisy's annual July Fourth celebration is expanding this year to include live music, with this year's event featuring headliner Amber Carrington, former star of NBC's "The Voice." Locals may also know Carrington from her June 14 performance at the Riverbend Festival.
"We've done the same thing for many years, and we're trying to build it up to where it's a bigger event,"said Soddy-Daisy Commissioner Geno Shipley, as to why they decided to add music to this year's Independence Day event. "Next year we may even add more."
Organized by the city and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 942, the event will be held on Dayton Pike between the city's North and South ballparks on July Fourth. A car show will kick off the daylong event beginning at 8:30 a.m. and continuing until 2 p.m. Starting at 10 a.m., the North Park will feature food and craft vendors, train rides, inflatables and face-painting for the little ones.
Musicians will perform on the bridge over Chickamauga Lake starting at 3:15 p.m. with Stone Cold Fox, followed by Chad Shipley at 5:15 and Amber Carrington at 7. Fireworks will begin at 9:45 p.m., and attendees are asked to bring their chairs to enjoy the show.
The VVA chapter will be raffling off a 2004 Nissan Maxima at 6 p.m. Tickets will be sold for $5 each, with all proceeds going toward the construction of the chapter's new building, said Geno Shipley. To purchase car raffle tickets prior to the event, call Robert Cothran at 718-1735 or Geno Shipley at 280-0608.
Admission to the overall event is free.