Arkansas

Independence Day fireworks shows and events in and around central Arkansas

Published

2 years ago

June 28, 2024

Independence Day fireworks shows and events in and around central Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – It is time for fun, friends and fireworks as groups across Arkansas are making ready for Independence Day celebrations.

Events are taking place both on July 3rd and 4th, often in lake-adjacent parks.

Here is a list of some of the Independence Day events and displays taking place around central Arkansas.

JULY 3

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE: The ‘base is hosting its Liberty Fest on July 3rd with gates opening at 5 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m., live music begins at 6 p.m. Includes a BBQ contest, inflatables, DJ, food, bourbon tasting, corn hole tourney, games, prizes, more.

BENTON: The July 3rd Red, White and Boom Independence Day fireworks celebration from 7 to 9 p.m. at the River Center parking lot behind Holland Chapel Church. Free hot dogs with lemonade, cold drinks, snow cones and ice cream from food trucks. Inflatables for children and a Baggo tournament. Fireworks after dark.

CONWAY: The July 3rd Freedom Fest takes place from 4 to 10 p.m. at Beaverfork Lake Park in the city. Free admission for food trucks, live music, and fireworks after dark.

SHERWOOD: Independence Day celebration on July 3rd with Fireworks and Food Trucks; gates open at 6 p.m. at the Greens at North Hills. Family-friendly activities include a bounce house, face painting, music and food trucks.

LAKE NORFORK / MOUNTAIN HOME: A July 3rd fireworks show at Lake Norfork can be seen from the Highway 101 and 62 bridges crossing the lake. The show starts at dark, with music simulcast on FM 99.7, The Boot.

JULY 4

LITTLE ROCK: Pops on the River for July 4th, gates at Rivermarket open at 5 p.m. with the Kids Pavilions through 9:15 p.m. when the fireworks begin. Food trucks are on hand, and live music begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra at 8:30 p.m. Free with reserved seating available for $15; chairs and blankets are encouraged. Fireworks over the downtown Main Street Bridge visible throughout Little Rock. Schedule is rain or shine.

HOT SPRINGS: July 4th Fireworks at Lake Hamilton, a free event with fireworks fired from a barge on the lake, best seen from the east side of Highway 7 at the first highway bridge opposite the DoubleTree Hot Springs hotel. Begins at dark. The display will synch with 97.5 FM US97 Country. The rain date is July 5th.

JACKSONVILLE: July 4th Big Bang Fireworks Show downtown, 5 to 9 p.m. free event at Five Points on Main Street, featuring food trucks, live music, games and inflatables. Bringing a blanket or chair is recommended.

CABOT: July 4th at the Cabot Sportsplex is the July Annual Celebration, beginning at 6 p.m. with balloon animals, face painting, food trucks, live music, and more; fireworks will be at 9:15 p.m.

BATESVILLE: Cory Jackson is in concert for the Celebrate America celebration on July 4th in the city park; the gates open at 4 p.m. with kid-friendly events promised. Rep. Rick Crawford and the Triple Nickel band are also appearing. This is a free concert.

BULL SHOALS: Bull Shoals Lake is the site of the July 4th Independence Day Fireworks Show, VFW Parade, and All-American Independence Day Celebration. The best places to see the show are Gaston’s Visitor Center Overlook at the dam, the lakeview side of the dam at the park, or the bottom of the dam. Water, lawn chairs, bug spray, and blankets are recommended. The Show begins after dark.

BEEBE: Opening at 5 p.m. on July 4, the Beebe Diamonds in the Park event is at the city ball park and includes a free concert by Collin Raye alongside fireworks later in the evening.

BISMARK: July 4th Freedom 5K/10K fun run at DeGray Lake Resort State Park from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Patriotic outfits are encouraged to run, walk or march the course while enjoying scenic lake views.

CAMDEN: On July 4th the city is holding its Star Spangled Spectacular at the municipal airport beginning at 6 p.m. with live music, food trucks, inflatables, live music and more. Fireworks at dark, fee admission.

FORT SMITH: The July 4th Celebration will be from 5 to 10 p.m., featuring food trucks, free public transportation, live entertainment, and what organizers promise is the largest fireworks display in the region at 9:30 p.m.

LAKE CATHERINE STATE PARK: July 4th family-friendly events are from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. with canoe races, beach volleyball, bike races, scavenger hunts, three-legged races, hula hoop contests and a water balloon toss wrapping things up.

What you don’t know about July 4th

MORRILTON: July 4th Fun & Games Day at Petit Jean State Park from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for family-friendly events such as a watermelon eating contest, water balloon volleyball and water balloon toss.

MOUNTIAN HARBOR / MOUNT IDA: The July 4th Fireworks Over Harbor promises to be the lake’s largest fireworks show with accompanying patriotic music at 9:30 p.m.

It’s always a good idea to have a chair or blanket, and maybe some water, handy for comfort’s sake while you watch the show. Don’t forget the sunscreen for before-dark events.

Several events are simulcasting a music synch with the fireworks display on FM radio, so if you’re going out into a field to watch, bring along a portable radio for the best experience.

Know of an Independence Day event not on our list? Shoot us an email to let us know.

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Arkansas

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

Published

55 minutes ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

LITTLE ROCK, AR (KATV) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has joined a new national artificial intelligence initiative that launched Thursday, June 25.

RAISE US, started by former Governor Eric Holcomb of Indiana and Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce is a nonpartisan national organization that will partner with governors, employers, workers and training organizations to help the workforce transition to an AI economy.

“As artificial intelligence transforms America’s economy, we have one clear message: technology should empower people, not replace them. By leveraging our Arkansas LAUNCH initiative, and with the resources and expertise provided by RAISE US, Arkansas will turn that mission into reality. We want the Natural State to be a leader on education, workforce training, and up-skilling, and this new partnership gives us the tools we need to build a model for the entire nation.”

The organization will design and pilot incentives to retrain workers, new approaches to support job transitions, and training models tied to employer demand.

RAISE US launches with more than two dozen American companies and philanthropies and initial state partnerships in Connecticut, Maryland and Utah.

“America has a technology strategy for leading the global AI competition. It does not yet have a people strategy — and we cannot lead without one,” Raimondo, who will serve as CEO of RAISE US, said.

“If we build the best AI systems in the world and leave millions of Americans behind, we won’t have won anything; we’ll have automated our own decline. I believe AI will create new jobs and industries over time, but the transition could be disruptive, and it’s already underway. We shouldn’t fearmonger, but we can’t pretend our training and worker support systems are ready either. It’s time for innovative and practical solutions. This moment demands ambition, urgency, and creativity. We’ve assembled the country’s top companies, best economists, and bipartisan governors at a scale rarely seen — all to advance new ideas and incentives, pilot them with governors and business, and scale what works.”

Governor Sanders is partnering with RAISE US to support Arkansas LAUNCH, an AI-powered career navigation platform that connects students and jobseekers to personalized learning and employer-linked career pathways.

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