FORT LEE, Va. - The annual Independence Day celebration at Fort Lee is a free event, open to the public, featuring games for kids, live music and fireworks.
Prior to the entertainment, join us on the lawn in front of the Lee Club at 4 p.m. for a 50-Cannon Salute. From there, make the short walk to Williams Stadium for a festive evening.
Classic R&B band En’Novation will be the featured entertainment. The six-member group performed during a Family and MWR Live at Five event last year and at the 2014 Fourth at the Fort celebration. Audience members are sure to be dancing and singing along as the Richmond-based entertainers present their exciting lineup of soul, pop, Top 40 and beach music.
At approximately 7 p.m., Fort Lee’s 392nd Army Band will take the stage for what’s likely to be its final large-scale performance as the group is set to begin preparations for deactivation in September.
Joining the band for the opening act is Johnny Hiland, a musician/guitarist known for “mixing chicken pickin' country guitar with rock, blues and western swing.” The band’s rock ensemble also will be performing during the program, and the full concert orchestra will close out the show with a variety of military medleys and playing the “1812 Overture” during the fireworks display that begins at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Other Fourth at the Fort activities include a KidZone play area with rock-climbing walls, a bounce house, a giant inflatable aircraft carrier slide and more opening at 5 p.m. Ride tickets in the play area are $1 each (some rides may require more than one ticket), and unlimited ride wristbands are available for $20 each.
Fourth at the Fort also will feature a food court where guests can purchase a wide variety of carnival-style snacks and beverages. The KidZone and concessions areas close at 9 p.m.
Special gate hours will be in effect that day to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic for the event. The Mahone Avenue Access Control Point will be open from 9 a.m.to 11 p.m. The Lee Avenue ACP will be open from 1-11 p.m. The A Avenue and Shop Road ACPs will be egress (outbound traffic) only. The A Ave. hours of operation will be 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. The Shop Road hours of operation will be 9:35-11 p.m. Sisisky Gate will continue 24-hour operations for access and departure, as always.
Visitors are reminded that all individuals 18 years of age or older will need to present a valid state- or government-issued identification card, with photo, to access the installation. This includes adults riding in the same vehicle.
Personal pyrotechnics, tailgating, coolers, smoking or pets are not permitted in or around the event area. If inclement weather poses a risk to visitors, the 392nd Army Band performance and fireworks will be rescheduled to July 5. Event notices will be posted on the FortLeeFMWR Facebook page.