RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Color the south flightline red, white and blue July 4 as Randolph celebrates Independence Day in rousing fashion.
Set to kick off at 5 p.m., the biennial Fourth of July celebration, which is free and open to the public, offers participants a plethora of activities - from games, interactive inflatables and arts and crafts for children to music from The Psychedelic Jukebox from 6-9:30 p.m. and a spectacular fireworks display at 9:35 p.m. to cap the evening.
"This is our first Independence Day celebration as part of the 502nd Air Base Wing," said Shelta Reese, 902nd Force Support Squadron marketing director. "It's fun for the whole family, with lots of activities for kids. It's always a good time."
Activities for youngsters include a water tag maze, an inflated boot camp-style obstacle course, a double slide and Game Truck, which features an array of age-appropriate interactive electronic games.
A sport skills area will give visitors a chance to display their prowess throwing a football and baseball or shooting free throws. A family circuit challenge with six stations will be open and a Zumba demonstration is planned for the main stage at 6:45 p.m.
Ms. Reese said the Zumba demonstration fits in with the Air Force's FitFamily initiative.
"We're trying to get people active and get them moving," she said.
San Antonio's Psychedelic Jukebox, formed by a radio station's employees to play at the company's Christmas party, performs music from the 1960s and 1970s, including tunes by the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Rascals, the Doobie Brothers, Steppenwolf and others.
Food and drink will be in abundance, with vendors offering hot dogs, fajitas, watermelon, roasted corn, cotton candy, funnel cakes and snow cones throughout the event.
Coolers, picnic baskets, backpacks, weapons, bicycles, skateboards, personal fireworks and pets are not allowed on base. Ms. Reese said guests should bring their own chairs and use plenty of sunscreen. Bottled water and other refreshing drinks will be sold.
The public will enter Randolph through the south gate off Lower Seguin Road or the east gate off FM 78 and will be directed to parking while Department of Defense cardholders are encouraged to use the main gate or the west gate.
Ms. Reese said all vehicles are subject to inspection by security forces while on base, and personal hand-carried items such as handbags, diaper bags and camera bags will be inspected before entry into the event area is authorized. The use of cell phones while operating a vehicle at Randolph is prohibited.
For more information, call 652-2052.