Mt. Juliet to combine fireworks shows for July 4; Lebanon, Watertown and 'Field of Flags'

• Mt. Juliet preparing for 7,000-10,000 as Tom Needham and city join forces.
• More than 200 U.S. flags are expected to be displayed at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center July 1-4 to help military veterans.

Mt. Juliet will combine its July 4 fireworks display back into one show for the first time since 2018.

Tom Needham lit Mt. Juliet’s fireworks display for more than 20 years. However, in 2019, the city held its own show as Needham held a private show.

The separate shows occurred after Mt. Juliet initially canceled its display that year because the city couldn’t find a suitable location due to local development. Mt. Juliet eventually found a location to hold its display, but Needham had already pursued his own spot.

In 2021, Needham’s show moved to Circle P Ranch, a private property owned by Rufus Page. The city eventually found the Mt. Juliet League’s Two Rivers Ford Park to hold its show.

The combined US Community Credit Union 4th of July Celebration show will be held at Circle P Ranch. Here's more on Fourth of July celebrations in Wilson County.

Mt. Juliet

Circle P Ranch at 563 E. Main Street will open at 4 p.m., with food trucks, live music and inflatables.

A stage will be rented for local bands with two LED screens on each side of the stage, Page said.

The city is preparing for 7,000 to 10,000 people to attend, Mt. Juliet spokesman Justin Beasley said.

The property sits on a hill, which Page believes rivals any high point in the city. Places to watch include areas along Mt. Juliet Road from East Hill to areas along Old Lebanon Dirt Road and Division Street from Industrial to Pascal, Mt. Juliet Police Capt. Tyler Chandler said. There will also be available field parking.

“We feel this will be a much easier event to handle than having two or just one show at the ballfields,” Chandler said. “The firework show is visible across more available parking and throughout much of the center of Mt. Juliet due to the elevation the show is launched from …”

Lebanon

The city will hold July 4 activities at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center, 945 E. Baddour Parkway from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Food vendors will include Kona Ice, Travelin Tom’s, Smashed Fruit Drink, Veterans BBQ, La Pasita, Nash Kebab, Funnel King, Hillbilly Shack and Roasted Coconuts.

The Evermean Evergreen Cloggers will perform at 5 p.m., and live music will start at 6 p.m.

Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m.

All activities will be held in the midway area of the fairgrounds. People are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

Parking opens at 3 p.m., gates open at 4 p.m., and youth activities start at 5 p.m.

Watertown

The town’s annual Stars, Stripes and Squirt Guns parade will be held at 3 p.m., starting at Round Lick Baptist Church, going east down Main Street and ending at Sparta Pike.

The parade includes squirt gun battles for those who want to get wet.

Residents and those along the parade path can shoot their own squirt guns. Water balloons and hoses are not allowed.

The parade also has a "dry section” with no squirt guns that can include classic cars, horses, and Shriners in the back.

Fireworks start at dusk at the fields behind Three Forks Park. Food trucks and craft vendors will be on the Watertown square starting at noon. Food trucks will also be at the park for the fireworks display.

Field of Flags

More than 200 U.S. flags are expected to be on display at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center July 1-4 as a fundraising effort to help military veterans in need.

Last year’s Field of Flags had 206 flags, and hopes are for 250 this year, one of the organizers Bill Moss said.

The display will be set up for people to walk through or drive through. To sponsor an individual flag is $35.

Proceeds will benefit the American Legion Post 15, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5015, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1004, and the Associates Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1004. Money raised goes to help veterans with rent, electric bills, food and other needs.

The display will be open noon- 6 p.m., each day. A closing ceremony is scheduled at 5 p.m., July 4.

Reach Andy Humbles at [email protected] or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.