June 30th Fireworks and Patriotic Programs at Cowpens National Battlefield

National Park Service News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – DATE: June 25, 2007 CONTACT: Donna Davis, (864) 461-2828

June 30th Fireworks and Patriotic Programs at Cowpens National Battlefield

On Saturday, June 30, 2007, Cowpens National Battlefield will celebrate our nation’s independence with patriotic programs from 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. This free event will begin with guided battlefield walks at 9:00 a.m. and end with a fireworks display around 9:15 p.m. The majority of activities will take place at the historic Scruggs House and a program tent set up behind the park’s visitor center. Reenactors will be at the Scruggs House presenting living history demonstrations from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The first musket and rifle firing demonstration will be at 10:15 a.m. at the Morgan’s Camp area of the park. The last one will be at 3:15 p.m.

Also at 9:00 a.m., Jim McGaw will play 18th century hammer dulcimer music at the Robert Scruggs House, and at 10:00 a.m. John Golden will play 18th century music and tell stories in the program tent behind the Visitor Center. They will play at intervals throughout the day until 3:30 p.m. Miller-Rowe Consort will play 18th century hammer dulcimer music in the program tent behind the Visitor Center at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. They will be available to sign their CDs following each program. At 11:00 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. in the program tent, Dave Sherrill and Scott Hodges will give a first-person performance about Benjamin Franklin. The first Benjamin Franklin performance will be followed by Signora Bella at 11:15 a.m. Signora Bella portrays an 18th century traveling entertainer, and will perform such acts as juggling while walking on a slack rope. If you miss this performance, you will have three other opportunities to see it over the course of the day. The event culminates with the Spartanburg Community Band performance at 8:00 p.m. that continues through the fireworks show, which will begin around 9:15 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 1, 2007.

The Visitor Center will be open 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. The new park video, Cowpens: A Battle Remembered (18 minutes), will be shown on the hour until 4:00 p.m. in the Visitor Center auditorium. The fiber-optic map displaying troop movements on the battlefield (13 minutes) will be shown on request. Author Nicki Sackrison will be at the Visitor Center to sign copies of her book, Awesome Women. Ask at the Visitor Center for the book signing times.

For the safety of our visitors, Green River Road and all trails leading to the battlefield will close at 4:00 p.m. Bring a picnic and enjoy the day with your family and friends. Please note that there will NOT be food available for purchase in the park. A roadside market is located outside the park’s main gate, and several restaurants are located in both Chesnee and Gaffney. Water and soft drinks will be available for purchase outside the Visitor Center, while supplies last. Safety is our top priority -- park regulations prohibit personal fireworks, chemlights, sparklers, etc. Please leave them at home.

For a complete schedule, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/cowp/ or call (864) 461-2828.

Independence Day was first celebrated on July 8, 1776, following the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. The Battle of Cowpens, known as the Prelude to Yorktown, was fought four and a half years later on January 17, 1781, and was a crucial patriot victory. Cowpens National Battlefield is located 10 miles west of Gaffney, SC, and 3 miles east of Chesnee, SC at the intersection of Highways 11, 110, and 221-A. Visitor Center hours are 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily, closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Days. The Robert Scruggs House was not here at the time of the battle, but can be dated to approximately 1830.

Ninety miles southeast of Cowpens National Battlefield is Ninety Six National Historic Site, site of the first Revolutionary War battle in the South and of the longest siege of the American Revolution. For more information on Ninety Six National Historic Site, call the park at (864) 543-4068 or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/nisi/.

-NPS-

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.

June 30th Program Schedule

Reenactors will be at the Scruggs House presenting living history demonstrations from 9:00a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Nicki Sackrison will sign copies of her book, Awesome Women. Ask at the Visitor Center desk for time and place.

Musical performances will last approximately 45 minutes.

9:00 a.m. Ranger-led battlefield walk - Visitor Center

Jim McGaw - 18th century hammer dulcimer music - Scruggs House

10:00 a.m. Jim McGaw - 18th century hammer dulcimer music - Scruggs House

John Golden - 18th century music - Program tent behind the Visitor Center

10:15 a.m. Weapons Firing Demonstration - Morgan's Camp at 1st stop on Battlefield trail behind the Visitor Center

11:00 a.m. Jim McGaw - 18th century hammer dulcimer music - Scruggs House

Meet Ben Franklin and Mr. Edward Rutledge, Delegate from South Carolina - Program Tent

11:15 a.m. Signora Bella - 18th cenury traveling performer - Program tent

11:45 a.m. Weapons Firing Demonstration - Morgan's Camp

12:00 p.m. Ranger-led battlefield walk - Visitor Center

12:15 p.m. John Golden - 18th century music and story telling - Program tent

12:45 p.m. Weapons Firing Demonstration - Morgan's Camp

1:00 p.m. Jim McGaw - 18th century hammer dulcimer music - Scruggs House

1:15 p.m. Signora Bella - 18th century traveling performer - Program tent

2:00 p.m. John Golden - 18th century musin and storytelling - Scruggs House

2:30 p.m. Meet Ben Franklin and Mr. Edward Rutledge, Delegate from South Carolina - Program tent

2:45 p.m. Ranger led battlefield walk - Visitor Center

3:00 p.m. Jim McGaw - 18th century hammer dulcimer musin - Scruggs House (Overflow parking is at picnic area. Loop Road is one way only)

3:15 p.m. Weapons Firing Demonstration - Morgan's Camp

Signora Bella - 18th century traveling performer - Program tent

THE GREEN RIVER ROAD AND ALL TRAILS LEADING TO THE BATTLEFIELD AREA ARE CLOSED AFTER 4:00 P.M. FOR FIREWORKS SET UP AND VISITOR SAFETY.

4:00 p.m. Miller - Rowe Consort - tradition 18th century music - Program tent

5:00 p.m. Signora Bella - 18th century traveling performer - Program tent

6:00 p.m. Miller-Rowe Consort - traditional 18th century music - Program tent

7:45 p.m. Meet Ben Franklin and Mr. Edward Rutledge, Delegate from South Carolina - Program tent

8:00 p.m. Spartanburg Community Band - Program tent

Between 9:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Fireworks by Bay Fireworks