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Fireworks – 4th of July Celebration

14th Annual Battleship Blast

Sunday July 4th 2010
5:00pm-9:30pm

Sunday, July 4, 2010, U.S. Cellular, City of Wilmington and the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA will proudly present the 2010 14th Annual Battleship Blast Fireworks show sponsored by Food Lion, WECT TV-6, and 102.7 WGNI.

Starting at 5:00 the 4th of July Riverfront Celebration will begin in Downtown Wilmington as the Street Fair kicks off the celebration. With food, music provided by the 440th North Carolina Army National Guard Band and the best place to be during the holiday season, it is fun for people of all ages.

New activities this year include a jumbotron provided by U.S. Cellular. Participants will be able to see up close and personal all the events happening in downtown and text their own messages to be displayed on screen.

“We believe relationships are important and our associates enjoy the sense of community that comes with bringing their neighbors, family and friends together to have a good time,” said Marcel Bekers, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in eastern North Carolina.

U.S. Cellular will also be bringing its $10,000 Speed Text Challenge. The fastest fingers in the nation will win a $10,000 grand prize. The second- through fifth-place finishers will receive $500 gift cards.

Residents can also test their skills at U.S. Cellular’s $10,000 Speed Text Challenge stops in Wilmington during the July 4th weekend. Participants compete individually or head-to-head using a full QWERTY handset to determine the fastest texter. The tournament is free and open to everyone, and will be at both of U.S. Cellular’s Wilmington stores on July 2 and 3. On July 4, there will be an expanded experience at the festival downtown. This exhibit will include a photo activity where visitors can have their picture taken using a U.S. Cellular handset and a charging station where customers can charge their cell phone battery for free. U.S. Cellular customers can swap out a dead or dying battery for a fully-charged one for free through the company’s Battery Swap program.

As a proud sponsor of the Battleship Blast, Food Lion will also host special activities during the street fair. Make sure to stop by to register to win one of their many giveaways.

Then, at 9:05pm when the sun has just set the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA hosts the 14th Annual “BATTLESHIP BLAST” fireworks show. As you look over the river from Downtown Wilmington the sky spectacular will begin. This production by PYRO SHOWS, an international award-winning pyrotechnics company, is guaranteed to dazzle residents and visitors alike. Bring the entire family and enjoy an explosive evening!

While you are enjoying the show, share it with your friends who couldn’t be here by going to http://12seconds.tv/home and upload your video of the fireworks. It’s free and fun and can automatically update your facebook and twitter pages.

For those viewing the fireworks along the river bring your radios and tune in to WGNI 102.7 FM. Pyro Show’s choreographed music to the fireworks spectacular will be simulcast on WGNI 102.7 FM. For those not able to be downtown, WECT TV-6 will broadcast and stream the “BATTLESHIP BLAST” live from 9:00pm-9:30pm.

The entire Battleship complex on Eagles Island will be closed at 6:00pm and all vehicles will be required to leave by 6:30pm. Therefore, come early and visit the equally impressive Battleship NORTH CAROLINA before the activities in the evening.

Parking information

City parking decks located in the 100 block of Market St. and in the 100 block of N. 2nd St. will charge a $5.00 event fee for the festivities. Parking on street will be free of charge.

Street Closures

Please note: The following streets will be closed for the 4th of July Celebration: Water between Market and Grace and the 00 blocks of Market and Princess will close at 2:00 pm (event area); Chestnut between 3rd and Front will close at 4:00 pm (for traffic purposes). The Wilmington Police Department will direct traffic during the event and after the fireworks. The WPD will close additional streets as needed in the downtown area to control traffic. EXPECT DELAYS when arriving and leaving the downtown area due to large volumes of traffic for the event.

Important Traffic Information

After the fireworks are over, all traffic parked south of Chestnut Street (including the City parking decks in the 100 block of Market Street and in the 100 block of N. 2nd Street) will be diverted south by the WPD toward Market Street, Dawson Street and the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. All traffic parked north of Chestnut Street (including the New Hanover County parking deck in the 200 block of N. 2nd) will be diverted north by the WPD towards MLK Parkway and the Isabel Holmes Bridge. All vehicles should park on the side of downtown (with Chestnut Street being the dividing line) that is closest to the direction they will be traveling after the fireworks have ended for easy access out of downtown.

Located at the junction of Highways 17/74/76/421 on the Cape Fear River. Visit www.battleshipnc.com, call 910-251-5797 or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more information.