Updated June 30, 2020, 4:24 p.m.
If you’re among the thousands of folks who have spent the last decade heading to Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport for KTBS 3’s annual Independence Day festivities, we’d like to direct your attention to these new details of the 2020 festival planned for Saturday, July 4. Instead of one huge festival taking place in a single location, this year’s KTBS-3 Freedom Fest Finale will split up into eight fireworks events (seven of which are open to the public) taking place simultaneously in Shreveport, Blanchard, Benton, Ruston, Natchitoches, Texarkana, and more.
Here’s a list of the locations of these eight fireworks events:
- Blanchard, La – Northwood Hills Golf Club
5000 Northwood Hills Dr., Shreveport
Additional details - Benton, La. – Cypress Baptist Church
4701 Palmetto Rd., Benton
Additional details - Texarkana, Ar. – Downtown Texarkana
Additional details - Natchitoches, La. – Natchitoches Historic Business District
Additional details - Ruston, La. – Temple Baptist Church
Park in parking lot and tune into live radio event on 94.1 FM
Additional details - Downtown Shreveport – Stoner Avenue at Clyde Fant Parkway
Drive-up fireworks viewing in your car - Shreveport – Louisiana State Fairgrounds parking area
Drive-up fireworks viewing in your car - South Shreveport – Southern Trace/Wallace Lake area
Not a public event
Here’s what else we know: Fireworks will be launched at each site at 9:15 p.m., when they’ll also be broadcast live on KTBS 3 and KPXJ-CW 21. The live television broadcast will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature live musical performances by Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Betty Lewis, Robin Vosbury, Charity Gayle, and Linnea Allen. There’ll also be a B-52 flyover courtesy of Barksdale Air Force Base that’ll be visible in Natchitoches, Shreveport-Bossier and Texarkana.
More Independence Day Events in Shreveport
In addition to the KTBS 3 Freedom Fest Finale, some other Independence Day events are popping up, as well.
The 36th Annual Sportspectrum Firecracker 5K Race For Research is officially a “go,” and race organizers have posted a long list of adjustments that they’ve made to provide a safe running environment for participants. These adjustments include eight waves of start times for runners, color-coded “corrals” for runners, and the elimination of water stops and the post-run party. Seriously, these folks have made big changes.
There’s also A Taste of Artipsy in downtown Shreveport, a cocktail-sampling event featuring a live performance by Music Prize-winners Tipsey the Band. I’ve read the Facebook event description several times and, unless I’m hallucinating, it does indeed state that a $25 ticket includes samples of ten cocktails.
Those who enjoy exercise and the great outdoors may want to consider the July 3 Moonlight Paddle on Bayou Bodcau or the July 5 Community Bike Ride with S-B Rides, both of which are free and open to all.
Whether you’re running or sampling cocktails, please be safe and practice responsible social distancing.
As we spot more July 4 events, we’ll make sure they’re posted to the Shreveport-Bossier Fun Guide, where you can always find upcoming in-person and virtual events.
If you’re planning a visit to Shreveport-Bossier, download the 2020 Official Visitors’ Guide to Shreveport-Bossier or view it in a mobile-friendly e-reader.
Need a hotel room in Shreveport-Bossier? The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, publisher of www.20×49.com, has exclusive offers on discounted travel packages from some of Shreveport-Bossier’s best local hotels.
