Independence Day arrives this year disconnected from any weekends. Guess that means you’ll have to take the entire week off.
Here are a few suggestions for filling the time:
Wing Ding 34: A giant touring rally and trade show for Honda Gold Wing motorcycle enthusiasts comes to Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave., Tuesday through Saturday.
Specifics include a Top Gun competition, a buffet dinner and numerous entertainers. For more information, go to www.wing-ding.org.
Garrett Heritage Days: Over the next few days, you may be on the lookout for a small-town, American experience that is more authentic than anything your big town is able to provide.
You should find it at Garrett Heritage Days, says one of the festival’s committee members, Carla Smith.
Smith says Garrett Heritage Days is the quintessential small-town festival. It happens Tuesday and Wednesday in downtown Garrett and the city’s East Side Park.
There’s a parade, a chalk art contest, a classic car show, a pancake breakfast, a bake-off, a talent show and fireworks.
The Rolling Stones tribute band Start Me Up performs in the East Side Park band shell at 8 p.m.
For a complete schedule of events and additional information, go to www.garrettheritagedays.com.
Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s Patriotic Pops concert: An annual tradition for many folks, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s series of Patriotic Pops concerts happen at various locales across northeast Indiana in late June and early July.
The tour concludes today at 4 p.m. at Foellinger Theatre in Franke Park. Assistant Conductor Sameer Patel will be the maestro.
This year’s program, according to Christy Sandmeier, the orchestra’s director of development and marketing, will include John Williams’ “Olympic Fanfare,” Bob Lowden’s “Armed Forces Salute,” traditional Sousa marches, sing-along classics, selections from “The Music Man” and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”
Tickets, at $10, are available by calling 481-0777.
Freedom on Main with the Heartland Chamber Chorale: The Heartland Chamber Chorale is taking over entertainment duties this year from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic at this annual event, which traditionally happens in downtown Roanoke on July 3. The 2012 edition happens Tuesday evening.
The Chorale’s executive director, Robert Nance, says his organization will debut a 21-piece big band called the Heartland Jazz Orchestra.
Nance says the orchestra’s repertoire includes songs by Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Duke Ellington.
The Heartland Chamber Chorale will shoulder the crooning duties, of course.
Christine Stutzman, wife of Congressman Marlin Stutzman, is scheduled to perform at some point, Nance insists.
Barbecue fare catered by Joseph Decuis will be available for additional cost before the Heartland performance, as will music by the rock band End Game.
The pre-show festivities start at 5 p.m., and the concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets, at $10, are available by calling 436-8080.
Historic Forks of the Wabash Old-Fashioned Fourth of July: The Erie Band will perform, an honor guard will “present colors,” speakers will speak, singers will encourage singing along and a hog will be roasted.
It starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Forks of the Wabash is located at 3011 West Park Drive in Huntington.
Manchester College’s Fourth of July celebration: This annual event features a performance by the Manchester Civic Band, old-fashioned patriotic speechifying, fireworks and reasonably priced food.
The event, described as a community party, starts at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and happens on Manchester College’s athletic grounds in North Manchester.
For more information, go to www.manchester.edu.
