NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Fireworks will light up downtown Nashville's skyline Wednesday for Music City's 4th of July celebration.
Things will start around noon with a festival and music at the new location – the Lawn at Riverfront Park, next to the Shelby Street pedestrian bridge. The new venue means extra space for 20,000 more people.
Preparations for the "Let Freedom Ring" have been 12 months in the making for the 22 minute fireworks display.
This year, city organizers expanded the show to cover two nights instead of one. On Tuesday night, a couple thousand people came out for a concert and a mini fireworks show, as a Prelude to the Fourth.
Organizers said the new spot will let more people enjoy what Music City has to offer on the Fourth of July, just with a new view.
"If you sit right here where you are standing you catch good music, good fireworks over each of my shoulders. I think this is the better spot. But if you only want fireworks, Riverfront Park is still open," said Butch Spyridon with the Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
The fireworks show begins at 9:45 p.m. Parking is available at LP field for $8.
Several roads into and around downtown will be closed due to the fireworks show.
Closings at 6 a.m. Wednesday include:
- 1st Avenue from Union Street to the Korean Veteran's Bridge
- 2nd Avenue from Church to Demon Streets
- Broadway from 1st to 3rd Avenues
- Molloy Street from 1st to 2nd Avenues
- Demonbreun Street from 1st to 2nd Avenues
Closing at 4 p.m. Wednesday will be:
- 3rd Avenue from Commerce to Demonbreun Streets
Police also said that traffic on the Korean Veteran's Bridge will be restricted to two lanes beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday for installation of pedestrian safety fencing.
Officials also sought to remind travelers that parking on the shoulders of the interstate system to watch the fireworks display is prohibited. Anyone who parks or stops without a legitimate reason will be tickets. Cars left abandoned on the interstate will be towed.
