Join Rock Island Parks and Recreation for some patriotic fun on Tuesday, July 3^rd with the annual Red White & Boom event and fireworks show in Schwiebert Riverfront Park. Combine free admission, inflatables, entertainers, good dance music, beer garden, military tribute, funnel cakes, the park’s play fountain, digital playground and beautiful riverfront location with a fabulous fireworks show and you’ve got the best Independence Day celebration in the region. The Red, White & BOOM bi-state event has continued to grow and includes military appreciation and patriotic family fun activities.

     Schwiebert Riverfront Park activities begin at 5:00 pm with food vendors and a Bent River Brewing Company Beer Garden. Children’s entertainment also begins at 5:00 pm and includes inflatables to climb, bounce, race, and slide on ($5 wrist band). Quad City Clown Troup will be in attendance entertaining with magic and much more for the kids from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

     At 5:00 pm a special military tribute will honor our Armed Forces as well as a proclamation to celebrate the history of collaboration and accomplishments of Rock Island and Davenport. DJ Jeff James will kick off the stage activities at 5:15 pm with live music with COUNTRY Financial Presenting the Country Couch Potatoes. At 6:30 pm a performance by Metropolitan Youth Program Drill Team of Rock Island will perform. COUNTRY Financial then welcomes to the stage Smooth Groove at 7:00 pm with a nice blend of pop, R&B, rock-n-roll and high energy dance tunes. The Red, White & Boom! fireworks show is scheduled to begin at 9:30 pm. Fireworks will be launched from two barges on the Mississippi River and will be choreographed to a custom made soundtrack, which can be heard throughout the park or tune in to 96.9 FM (97X) to hear the music during the show. 

     Dinner fare, desserts and beverage concessions will be available throughout the park from multiple vendors starting at 5:00 pm. All ages are invited onto the Great Lawn, where ID will be required to purchase beer from Bent River Brewing Company, which will be selling its popular Uncommon Stout in addition to a number of other favorites. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. The following are not permitted in the park: outside alcohol, glass, tents and fireworks. Coolers and bags will be checked at the gate. Please do not bring dogs or other animals to this event.

     Like us on facebook at Facebook.com/rockislandparksandrec or follow us on twitter @RIparksandrec for live tweets throughout the event. Share with us how much fun you are having during the event using #QCBoom2018.         

     Rock Island entertainment and activities are presented by Rock Island Parks and Recreation, with additional support from the City of Rock Island including the Police & Fire Departments as well as Rock Island Happy Joe’s Pizza, COUNTRY Financial, Unity Point-Trinity, and Wheelan-Pressley. Fireworks are sponsored by Genesis Health Systems and the RDA (Regional Development Authority). Visit redwhiteandboomqc.org for a full listing of event activities on the Rock Island and Davenport Riverfront.

     Free parking will be available downtown in the parking ramp, and on the street. A handicap shuttle will provide rides to those requiring assistance from the parking garage to the park entrance via golf cart. First Avenue will be closed from 17^th to 20^th Street, and both parking lots in Schwiebert Riverfront Park will be closed. For those intending to watch the fireworks spectacle from the Mississippi River in a boat, please follow all directions on event day from official boats including the United States Coast Guard and local law enforcement agencies. A full river closure will be in effect from 6:00 pm-10:30 pm between Centennial Bridge and the head of Arsenal Island (just past Rock Island's Schwiebert Park). Boaters can be stationed up Sylvan Slough or on the far side of the Centennial Bridge parallel to Davenport's Centennial Park to view the show from the River. There will be no movement allowed in the closed area of the River until 30 minutes after the final fireworks display of the show. For more information call Rock Island Parks and Recreation at (309)732-7275.