Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – America’s 250th Anniversary is this Saturday! July 4th will be filled with family gatherings, barbecues, and fireworks. So why not make it a full day celebration? The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum is making it a full day of fun! Joe Crain, representing the ALPLM stopped by the WTAX Morning Newswatch to discuss anything and everything that they are doing this Saturday!

It all starts at 9:00 AM.

“Unlike other mornings, you can walk right past the ticket counter, because admission on the 4th of July will be free. Free admission all day, a chance to come in and experience the Lincoln legacy. Equally important, see our brand new exhibit that debuted in early June, the “Second American Revolution.” The exhibit is absolutely stunning, and you see so many cool things on display with that right now, including the pen that Lincoln used to sign the Emancipation Proclamation.”

Oh, and there is more!

“Come over to the park starting at 3:00, Union Square Park, our “America’s Ultimate Block Party” to celebrate, America 250. 
We will have a couple of food trucks, and we’ll have the foam and flight bubble experience for the kids, and hopefully, people will take advantage of this, to have some fun, you know, grab your little red wagon or your little tyke’s wagon, decorate it up with red, white, and blue. And we’re going to try to have an old-fashioned kid and pet parade at about 3:30.”

You can’t have this much fun, without the music!

“Of course, the big highlight of things is going to be the music, about 4:15, the 33rd Illinois regiment band will play, and, of course, they are authentic. They will be playing in the park on the stage at 4:15 for about an hour or so. 
And then we’ll reset the stage, and at 6 o’clock, 3rd coast brass from Chicago. This group is phenomenal — “The 3rd Coast Brass.” They play all over the place. 
They are well respected, talented group of musicians. They will be doing a thorough America 250 program with lots of American music that you know and love.”

It all just doesn’t end there! Fireworks give off the grand finale for America 250! The “Y Block” will host that show, along with other activities leading up to the 9 p.m. show.