News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville and Putnam County will celebrate the Fourth of July this year as Red, White and Boom returns for a sixth year.
“It’ll be a little different, as most things are in this time that we’re living in,” Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton said. “But it doesn’t mean that we can’t do it and can’t do it safely and can’t do it smartly. And that’s exactly what we’re going to figure out a way to do.”
With an overall focus on honoring hometown heroes, this year’s celebration will be condensed in terms of the number of events. That includes the cancellation of the Slide Cookeville, made impossible by social distancing requirements.
“We’re not concerned about the water part of it,” Shelton said. “I mean nothing’s been been said about this virus that it spreads through water. That event requires about 300 volunteers, so mainly the issue of of the close contact. You have people pushing people on the slide and the inner tubes and the surface stuff. So all those kind of things. There’s just no way to navigate that, to make sure that we can guarantee safety.”
With the vulnerable populations involved, the annual ceremony on the Putnam County Courthouse steps and the Childrens Patriotic Parade will also not be held this year. Events at the fairgrounds leading up to the fireworks will be replaced by a live virtual concert featuring “The Voice” winner Jake Hoot.
You know, this is this is his town,” Shelton said. “And he’s excited about the the honor of what this is about because, you know, you wrote a special song for for the tornado itself. And I know we’ll hear that that night and some other things.”
The concert begins at 6pm on the Fourth. The concert will also feature Tennessee Songwriters’ Week Finalists The Smoky Nights, and Atlanta-based, Americana Artist of the Year Alex Guthrie.
“Music is so, so important, and you have seen in other places, you see a lot on social media where the artists are doing things on Facebook or maybe some drive in things,” Shelton said. “And we thought about, you know, could we do a drive-in at the fairgrounds but just couldn’t accommodate enough people to make that work. So we’re going to have a love virtual concert.”
The virtual concert will be broadcast on Facebook, on Lite Rock 95.9, 106-9 Kicks Country, Rock 93-7 and News Talk 94.1. The more than 2.5 hours of live music will lead into the highlight of the night, fireworks.
“We will have, at minimum, the second largest fireworks show in Tennessee,” Shelton said. “Quite possibly, it may be the largest. We’re not sure about that yet. We’re still waiting to hear some things. And but it’s one of the biggest in the southeast. And if you’ve seen it before, it’s amazing. It’s awesome. It’s choreographed to music.”
The number of cars allowed into the Fairgrounds will be limited to ensure social distancing. Foot traffic will be limited and attendees will be asked to keep children close by. In addition, a list of additional approved areas to watch the fireworks will be issued. More information on specific policies and procedures as well as traffic information will be issued closer to the fourth.
“It’s all about freedom and that’s what Independence Day is,” Shelton said. “You’re going to have the freedom to still come and enjoy something. If you feel that that might not be the best for you, if you’re in a vulnerable population, you’re going to have the freedom to stay home but still be able to listen and watch. And so that was important to give both options.”
