A Few Fun Features for Your 4th of July

No doubt about it...there's plenty to do in Shreveport-Bossier to celebrate Independence Day. Here are a few ideas for you.

BOARDWALK RED, WHITE AND RELAY

It's a July 4th week celebration! And it's happening at the Louisiana Boardwalk. "Red, White, and Relay" runs from July 2nd through 7th, thanks to a partnership between the Boardwalk and the American Cancer Society. At 8:30 p.m. on the 4th, the sky by the river will light up with a Sky Lantern ceremony in honor and memory of those folks who have battled cancer. You can get YOUR Sky Lantern from 5:30 til 8 that night. If you need more info about the event, call the Shreveport ACS office at 219-1668 or send an email to Tajmah.Belyeu@cancer.org.

STAY COOL AT THE POOL

A bit of a change to swimming pool and sprayground schedules for the upcoming holiday. Shreveport Public Assembly & Recreation and Rock Solid Sports say all public swimming pools will be open from 1 to 6 p.m., except Southern Hills, which will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. SPAR's seven spraygrounds will operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Riverview Park's sprayground will be open from 7 a.m. til 1 a.m. If you've never taken your child to one of the local spray parks...you need to. I can tell you from experience that it's loads of fun -- for your little one AND you! And what better way to cool off from this oppressive summer heat? For more info, visit SPAR's website.

EXPLORE SCIENCE THE PATRIOTIC WAY

Some Independence Day-themed activities and programs are coming up at Sci-Port...here's a run-down:

June 30th-July 4th, noon through 5 p.m.

Fireworks Fun! -- What puts the color in fireworks? How do they make such interesting shapes in the sky? Those questions and more will be answered at this event.

Friday, July 13th, from 8 to 11 p.m.

July Star Party -- Take a tour of the night sky using Sci-Port's large telescopes -- or bring your own -- to see constellations, stars and planets hanging in the Shreveport sky. It costs $3 for members and $5 for non-members.

Saturdays in July, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Solar System Saturdays -- explore the realm of our solar system with a series of hands-on activities and planetarium presentations.

Sundays, July 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th, at 1 and 4 p.m.

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Sun-dae -- Head to Sci-Port during National Ice Cream Month and get an ice cream sundae made with Liquid Nitrogen. The activity is free with admission to the center.

And my favorite (since I have an almost 4-year-old at home)...Itty Bitty Scientists, Wednesdays through August 1st, at 11 a.m. and noon. This one features hands-on activities for toddlers ages 2 through 5.

Of course, if you want more info, just click HERE.