History, Fireworks, and Family Fun at Cowpens National Battlefield

National Park Service News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: June 18, 2009

CONTACT: Donna Davis, (864) 461-2828

History, Fireworks, and Family Fun at Cowpens National Battlefield on Friday, July 3, 2009

Cowpens National Battlefield will celebrate our nation’s independence with fireworks and family activities on Friday, July 3, 2009. This free event will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a guided battlefield walk and end with a 650-shell professional firework display around 9:00 p.m. Local reenactors will set up a soldiers’ camp and will give cannon firing demonstrations at 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. Additional battlefield walks and programs will begin at the Visitor Center at 2:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. The Visitor Center will be open 9:00 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.

On the lawn behind the Visitor Center, the Spartanburg Community Band will play patriotic music from 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., leading up to the fireworks. Children’s activities will be offered from 7:00 p.m. until 8:45 p.m. After rolling a musket “cartridge” and performing a Revolutionary War musket drill, children will use a quill pen to sign up as a Junior Patriot.

Bring a picnic and enjoy the afternoon with your family and friends. Please note that there will NOT be food available in the park. Restaurants and fast food are located in both Chesnee and Gaffney. While supplies last, water and soft drinks will be available for purchase at the Visitor Center. Park regulations prohibit personal fireworks, sparklers, chem-lights, etc. For our visitors’ safety, the Macedonia Fire Department will close the battlefield area at 5:30 p.m.

In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks display will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 5, 2009.

Cowpens National Battlefield is the site of the American victory over the British on January 17, 1781 and 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. For more information, call (864) 461-2828 or visit the park’s webpage at www.nps.gov/cowp/. -NPS-

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