City of Newport News Cancels 4th of July Fireworks, Plans Alternate Celebrations
The city of Newport News has had to cancel its Independence Day fireworks for the second year in a row.
“The good news is, we’re doing quite a bit. The bad news is, no fireworks,” Michael Poplawski, director of Newport News parks department, told the City Council at its work session Tuesday night according to The Daily Press.
Newport News fireworks usually take place at Victory Landing Park, which doesn’t offer as much space for social distancing as the areas some of the surrounding cities and counties use for their fireworks, Poplawski said.
The city has other exciting plans though!
Four parks — Newport News Park, Riverview Farm Park, Huntington Park and King-Lincoln Park — will have food vendors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 4.
The city will also waive its fees for shoreline fishing, launching a private watercraft and disc golf. It will also offer free or discounted admission to the Virginia War Museum and other historic sites.
On the holiday, the city will bring back its “Happy 4th of July Newport News” banner from last year to fly over the city from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.