Arkansas
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.
Arkansas
Report: Boise State transfer receiver Chris Marshall signs with Arkansas football | Whole Hog Sports
Kentucky had a need at wide receiver entering the only transfer portal window of the offseason. The Wildcats addressed the position again on Day 10. UK has added a second transfer to the room. This is a familiar name to those who follow recruiting.
Arkansas transfer Ja’Kayden Ferguson committed to the Wildcats after his visit to Lexington over the weekend. The wide receiver was a former UK commit who flipped to the Hogs during the 2025 recruiting cycle. Now Ferguson has flipped back to the Big Blue.
Ja’Kayden Ferguson was a three-star recruit out of Metro Houston who picked Kentucky following a June official visit ahead of the 2024 season. However, Ferguson decided to open up his recruitment five months later and flipped to Arkansas. The 6-foot-2 receiver appeared in six games for the Razorbacks as a true freshman and burned his redshirt. Ferguson played just 20 offensive snaps.
The SEC transfer becomes the eighth current full-time scholarship player in Kentucky’s current wide receivers room. Some more additions are expected.
Kentucky transfer commits
| Player | Position | High School | Former School | Year |
| Olaus Alinen | G/T (6-6, 322) | Windson (Conn.) The Loomis Chaffee School | Alabama | Redshirt Junior |
| Jesse Anderson | S (6-0, 180) | Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons | Pittsburgh | Redshirt Junior |
| Max Anderson | iOL (6-5, 311) | Frisco (Texas) High | Tennessee | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Elijah “Bo” Barnes | LB (6-1, 244) | Dallas (Texas) Skyline | Texas | Redshirt Freshman |
| Jovantae Barnes | RB (6-0, 211) | Las Vegas (Nev.) Desert Pines | Oklahoma | Redshirt Senior |
| Ahmad Breaux | iDL (6-3, 278) | Ruston (La.) High | LSU | Junior |
| Jordan Castell | S (6-2, 213) | Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange | Florida | Senior |
| Xavier Daisy | WR (6-3, 210) | Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian School | UAB | Junior |
| Ja’Kayden Ferguson | WR (6-2, 187) | Missouri City (Texas) Thurgood Marshall | Arkansas | Sophomore |
| Aaron Gates | Nickel (6-0, 198) | Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian | Florida | Redshirt Junior |
| Jamarrion Harkless | iDL (6-3, 315) | Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass | Purdue | Redshirt Junior |
| Lance Heard | T (6-6, 330) | Monroe (La.) Neville | LSU | Tennessee | Senior |
| Mark Manfred III | CB (6-1, 175) | Marietta (Ga.) Sprayberry | Missouri | Redshirt Freshman |
| Kenny Minchey | QB (6-2, 208) | Hendersonville (Tenn.) Pope John Paul II | Notre Dame | Redshirt Junior |
| Antonio O’Berry | EDGE (6-6, 240) | Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne | Tiffin (D-II) | Gardner-Webb | 6th-Year Senior |
| Coleton Price | iOL (6-3, 318) | Bowie (Texas) High | Baylor | Redshirt Senior |
| Spencer Radnoti | LS (6-3, 230) | Canton (Ga.) Cherokee | Georgia State | Redshirt Sophomore |
| Cyrus Reyes | S (6-1, 200) | Taylor (Texas) High | Mississippi State | Junior |
| Hasaan Sykes | CB (6-0, 185) | Tuckert (Ga.) High | Western Carolina | Junior |
| Tavion Wallace | LB (6-1, 239) | Baxley (Ga.) Appling County | Arkansas | Sophomore |
| Dominic Wiseman | iDL (6-2, 300) | Davenport (Iowa) High | South Alabama | Redshirt Senior |
| Adam Zouagui | K (5-11, 188) | Herndon (Va.) High | Davidson | South Florida | Senior |
Arkansas
No. 20 Lady Vols Basketball vs. Arkansas: How to Watch, Prediction, More | Rocky Top Insider
Lady Vols basketball is back in Knoxville for a matchup with Arkansas after a two-game road stand. Tennessee is not only looking to stay perfect in SEC play, but is hosting its annual ‘We Back Pat’ game.
Here’s everything to know about the matchup, from broadcast details to a prediction.
More From RTI: Everything Lady Vols HC Kim Caldwell, PG Mia Pauldo Said After Road Win At Mississippi State
How to Watch — No. 20 Lady Vols (11-3, 3-0 SEC) vs. Arkansas (11-7, 0-3 SEC)
- Start Time: 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
- Location: Food City Center (Knoxville, Tenn.)
- Watch: SECN+ | PxP: Andy Brock, Analyst: Kamera Harris
- Online Streaming: Watch ESPN
- Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
- Vol Network radio crew: PxP: Brian Rice, Studio Host: Jay Lifford
Betting Odds
None listed yet
ESPN Matchup Predictor
Lady Vols – 98.3%
Arkansas – 1.7%
What Kim Caldwell Said After Mississippi State
“Good to get a win on the road. We know it’s a tough environment and we know that we got to win on the road in the SEC. It was good to do that. I wasn’t really proud of the rebounding, but I thought we looked a lot better in a couple different categories so that was good.”
Last Five Games
Lady Vols:
- at Mississippi State, 90-90 W
- at Auburn, 73-56 W
- vs. Florida, 76-65 W
- vs. Southern Indiana, 89-44 W
- vs. Louisville (Brooklyn), 89-65 L
Arkansas:
- vs. South Carolina, 93-58 L
- at Alabama, 77-48 L
- vs. Vanderbilt, 88-71 L
- vs. Arkansas State, 81-72 L
- vs. Stephen F. Austin, 82-73 W
Where They Land In Rankings
Lady Vols:
AP Poll – No. 20
Coaches Poll – No. 22
Bart Torvik – No. 13
Arkansas:
AP Poll – Unranked
Coaches Poll – Unranked
Bart Torvik – No. 107
Stat Leaders
Lady Vols:
- Points: Talaysia Cooper – 14.9
- Rebounds: Zee Spearman – 7.3
- Assists: Talaysia Cooper – 4.3
Arkansas:
- Points: Taleyah Jones – 16.9
- Rebounds: Bonnie Deas – 9.7
- Assists: Bonnie Deas – 2.6
Prediction
It’s been a rough start for Arkansas’ new coach, Kelsi Musick. The team is 0-3 in SEC games, and though it’s been against three good teams, the Razorbacks haven’t been competitive in any.
While neither side has been strong, Arkansas’ defense has been the weakest point. Not only is it coming off a game in which it gave up 93 points to South Carolina, but Arkansas State hung 81 in its win over the Razorbacks on the road.
If the Lady Vols don’t get in their own way, then they should be fine. It hasn’t been perfect, and against three teams not necessarily in the mix to win the league, but Tennessee has looked much improved in the SEC slate compared to the lumps it took in the out-of-conference schedule.
I’d think UT jumps on Arkansas in the first quarter and takes a comfortable lead into the second quarter. From there, the lead should continue to grow behind forced turnovers in the press and easy baskets on the other end.
Lady Vols 85, Arkansas 61
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