July 4 events

By Staff Reports

FIREWORKS

- 9:30 tonight, downtown Rock Hill

- 9 p.m. Friday, McCelvey Center, York

- 9:45 p.m. Friday, Buster Boyd Bridge area, Lake Wylie

- 9:30 p.m. Friday, the lawn at the clubhouse, Tega Cay

- After the game, around 10 p.m. Friday, Knights Castle, Fort Mill

- 10 p.m. Friday at Carowinds

SPECIAL EVENTS

Red, White and Boom!: 5:30 to 10 p.m., Thursday, City Hall Plaza in downtown Rock Hill. A band called Heavy Sandwich will start at 5:30 p.m., followed by Sticky Fingers, a Rolling Stones tribute band. The fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Alcohol available with wristband.

Ebenezer Grill's Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, 1 p.m. Friday. Those wanting to test their weiner-gobbling skills can sign up from 11 a.m. Friday until the event begins. The challenge is to see which contestant can eat the most hot dogs in 10 minutes. Contestants must pay a $10 entry fee and all proceeds go to the York County Cancer Association. The winner gets $50.

Celebrate American Independence, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Historic Brattonsville, McConnells. Honor the nation's birthday 1840s style with games, cooking demos, musket firings, children's military drills and a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Regular admission, $6 adults, $5 seniors, $3 youth and free for members and children 3 and younger.

Fourth of July Celebration, 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, McCelvey Center, York. The 6 p.m. opening ceremony will feature patriotic music, the Pledge of Allegiance and posting of the colors. Bobby Plair Jr. will play the National Anthem on the trumpet. Other activities will include food, kid-friendly activities, a performance by the Plair band and fireworks. Free admission.

Independence Day Celebration and cannon firing, 10 a.m. Friday, Historic Band Stand in Confederate Park downtown Fort Mill. Guest speaker will be U.S. Rep. John Spratt. The event will also feature patriotic music, and Mike Short will fire the cannon in celebration of the nation's 232nd birthday. The event is free and open to the public. For details call 547-2116. The Town of Fort Mill is sponsoring the event.

Tega Cay Lions Club annual fish fry, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Phillip Glennon Community Center in Tega Cay. The menu choices will include flounder or chicken fingers with baked beans, potato salad, hushpuppies, slaw and iced tea. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Bruster's Real Ice Cream will sell ice cream. Food is available for dine-in in the air-conditioned community center or take-out. Tickets may be purchased from any Tega Cay Lion or by calling 548-1648 or 548-3539.

The town of Tega Cay's 26th anniversary party will follow the fish fry, from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m., featuring a dedication of the Philip T. Glennon Community Center, birthday cake and fireworks.

Tega Cay's Red, White and Blue golf tournament, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Friday with a shotgun start, Tega Cay Golf Club.

The Charlotte Knights Skyshow tailgate party, beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, with food sold at the party and inside the stadium. Parking is $5 on the stadium grounds, or shuttles will run from Carolina Place beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Knights play the Durham Bulls at 7:15 p.m.; Jeep will give away free flags and Independence Day T-shirts, while they last. Petro Express and Texaco will have a contest to win free gas for a year. Fireworks will follow the game, synchronized to a patriotic soundtrack played live in the stadium and broadcast on WBT Radio 1110 AM and 99.3 FM.

Windjammer party, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Tega Cay's Windjammer Park, with shuttle service from Turner Field until 3:30 p.m. Events include a canoe joust, 11 a.m. to noon; boat parade arrival, 12:30 p.m.; and ski show, 1 to 2 p.m., featuring the Carolina Ski Show Team. No parking is allowed at Windjammer Park.

PARADES

Rock Hill Country Club Estates neighborhood Fourth of July parade, 11 a.m. Friday, beginning at the entrance to the Country Club Estates subdivision off S.C. 72, Rock Hill.

Rock Hill's Johnsonville community parade begins at noon Friday at 528 Forest Lane in the Forest Lane and Waverly/Sumter avenue neighborhood near Winthrop Lake. Details, call Mike or Laura Fuller, 327-9306.

Quail Run Neighborhood Fourth of July Parade, off of Saluda Road in Rock Hill, 10 a.m. Friday. Participants should line up at the Mallory Drive entrance at 9:30 a.m. The event is open to the public. For details, call Beth Cooper at 981-5185.

Tega Cay Land Parade, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Tega Cay Drive. Major feature this year is the "Star Wars" characters. Vintage cars also are being sought to participate.

Boat parade, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Nivens Creek, Tega Cay. Water ski show to follow at Windjammer Park.