Enjoy Little Big Town, Tyler Bryant, fireworks, food on Fourth

FORT?POLK, La. –– Do you have plans for the Fourth of July? If you’re looking for great music, tasty treats and spectacular fireworks, look no further than Fort Polk.  The Country Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year, Little Big Town, will headline FreedomFest July 4 at 5 p.m. at Headquarters Field.

Besides the wonderful music, FreedomFest will also offer a treat for your taste buds. Nearly 15 vendors are traveling to Fort Polk from across the Southeast for FreedomFest 2014. They’ll be serving up gator and shrimp on–a-stick, hot dogs and chili dogs, frog legs, wings, turkey legs and more. If all the smoked and slow-roasted food leaves you parched, pick up a smoothie, lemonade or even an Italian ice. Finally, satisfy your sweet tooth with ice cream, funnel cakes  and sno-cones.

You should probably wait until all that food settles before jumping on the five inflatables that will be set up to entertain children of all ages. More than 15 Family Readiness Groups will set up games, dunking booths, face painting and even hair painting stations to raise money for their organizations. So you can entertain the kids and help a good cause at the same time.

Special guest Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown will start the music at 6 p.m., followed by a 50-gun salute to the nation. At 8:15 p.m., as the sun starts to set, Little Big Town will take the stage and shake things up a little. At 9:45 p.m., the sky will light up with the biggest and best fireworks display in West Central Louisiana, provided to you by the Fort Polk Quality Recycling Program.

Things to know about FreedomFest:
• FreedomFest is free and open to the public.
• La. Hwy 467, both south and northbound from Corps Road to Third Street, will be closed at midnight July 1. The Department of Emergency Services will have detours in place.
• There is no on-site parking at the event. There will be limited handicap parking available at the event but it will not open until 5 p.m.
• Corps Road will be closed all day July 4 to through traffic. Only those with access passes will be allowed to travel on Corps Road.
• Patrons that do not have a Department of Defense ID card will have to park at Honor Field and ride the shuttle bus to the event. For those patrons that have a DoD ID card, you may park at the following locations: Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, Berry Battle Combat Training Center, Library and Education Center and the Main Post Exchange and Commissary. Shuttle buses will run from these locations to the event. Shuttles will begin at 4:30 p.m. and run continuously throughout the event.

Do not bring the following items: Pets, weapons, coolers, tents, alcohol, glass bottles, personal fireworks, professional cameras or video cameras, large signs or banners.  Seating is not provided so make sure you remember your blankets and chairs. The is no ATM on site so have plenty of cash on hand.  This is an outdoor event and it will be hot. Young children, the elderly and anyone with special medical concerns should take precautions to make sure they don’t get overheated.

For more information call 531-4271 or visit the Internet at:  www.fortpolkmwr.com or www.facebook.com/fortpolkmwr.