Party Like it's 1776 features fireworks, rodeo, cars and concert

Jul. 9—Cowboys, cars, fireworks and fair food highlight Party Like it's 1776 this weekend.

"We want to bring the fair back to Muskogee," event organizer Bill Stern said. "Everybody always says there's nothing to do here."

The celebration, which runs Friday and Saturday at Hatbox Field, features two nights of rodeos, concerts and fireworks.

Baredown Pro Rodeo of Checotah will present its bronc busting, barrel racing and bull riding action at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Rodeo admission is $10 for adults, $5 for youngsters age 7 and older, free for ages 6 and younger.

Fireworks displays will be after dark, around 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday.

"Saturday night, we have a 16-inch mortar shell that was donated in remembrance of Cliff Casteel," Stern said, referring to a popular Muskogee radio personality who died earlier this year.

Stern said the shell is supposed to shoot 1,200 feet in the air and 600 to 700 feet wide when it blows up.

Gates open at 4 p.m. for Friday festivities.

Friday's concert, which begins at 5:45 p.m., focuses on Red Dirt music, Stern said. Headliner is The Great Divide, a Stillwater group. Other Friday performers include the James Cook Band, Cade Roth and the Black Sheep, and the Mike McClure Band.

Saturday festivities begin at 9 a.m. with a car show presented by Clean Auto Details inside the Hatbox hangars.

Organizer Casey Gatwood said the show will feature a variety of classes and models.

"If everything goes right, we'll have a 1960 Cadillac that was supposedly owned by Kennedy when he was president," Gatwood said. "I've got a lot of nice classic cars that will be there, a lot of Chevys and Cadillacs, a lot of old stuff and new stuff. We'll have some low riders we'll try to have some people with their drag cars show up."

There also will be a class for motorcycles, he said.

Gates open at 6 p.m. for Saturday concerts, which will focus on country music. Kansas singer-songwriter Jerrod Niemann headlines the concert, which also features Payton Howie and Andy Pursell.

Pride Amusements will offer carnival rides throughout the celebration.

"We're going to have vendor booths inside the air conditioned building Friday and Saturday," Stern said, adding that least 20 food trucks will serve "anything that you will find at a fair."

General admission for the concert, car show and vendors area is free. V.I.P. tickets are $50 and are good for both nights.

"There are a few perks to that," Stern said. "It will get you closer to the band, closer parking. We will have a V.I.P. lounge. It helps us recoup the costs so we can have free general admission."