Avon prepares for fireworks and more at annual Salute to the USA
Annual Salute to the USA concerts and Independence Day celebration set for July 3
Chris Dillmann/Vail Daily
The 39th annual Salute to the USA at Harry A. Nottingham Park on Thursday, July 3, will feature Grammy Award-nominated, genre-defying musical collective Lettuce.
Gates open at 5 p.m. for the free celebration with live music kicking off at 6 p.m., followed by a large fireworks display at 9:45 p.m.
“We have reimagined the venue to create more space for guests, including an expanded picnic area and enhancements to the Family Zone,” said Danita Dempsey, the town’s chief cultural officer. “We aim to ensure that guests have a memorable time at the event, and we encourage them to review the prohibited items list before arriving to facilitate smooth entry.”
Avon has developed a digital Salute to the USA Event Guide to assist guests in navigating the event that is available on its website and is mobile-friendly.
“We recommend using public transit to and from the event and offer multiple free event shuttle options starting at 4 p.m. on July 3. For those who prefer cycling, there is limited bicycle-specific parking available, which is provided at the owner’s risk,” Dempsey said.
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Lettuce is a genre-busting six-member musical collective formed in 1992 by four alumni of the prestigious Berklee College of Music. The band feeds the rich history of funk music and combines it with strains of hip-hop, rock, psychedelia, jazz, soul, jam, go-go and the avant-garde.
The Grammy-nominated six-piece is comprised of Adam Deitch (drums, percussion), Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff (guitar), Erick “Jesus” Coomes (bass), Ryan Zoidis (alto, baritone, tenor sax, Korg X-911), Eric “Benny” Bloom (trumpet, horns), and Nigel Hall (vocals, Hammond B-3, Rhodes, clavinet, keyboards).
Opening for Lettuce at 6 p.m. is a multicultural five-piece band from Los Angeles, The Main Squeeze, which is coming off its sixth album, “To Be Determined.” The album showcases the unique chemistry the band has developed together over the years as it has become a touring phenomenon in the U.S. and around the world.
Salute to the USA is Avon’s longest-standing and most anticipated event of the year. For more information, go to DiscoverAvon.org.
