American Idol finalist, Grammy and Dove award-winning artists part of July 4 entertainment in Copperas Cove
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
Copperas Cove residents can stay close to home this year for the 4th of July, with a two-day event set to kick off on Monday, July 3 at Copperas Cove City Park, culminating with a fireworks display the evening of the 4th.
Gates open daily at 1 p.m. for parking, as well as car show entries.
Festivities run from 3-10 p.m. both days. This year, there will be a parking fee of $5 per carload to enter. There will be food and market vendors both days, along with carnival rides and inflatables. Tuesday’s activities will also include axe throwing and a gaming trailer.
The entertainment lineup for the two days includes Colin Stough, who took third place on the most recent season of American Idol. Stough will bring his brand of country music to the stage.
Colin Stough will take the stage at 3:30 on Monday, followed by the Cove Life Worship Team at 5:00, then Eddie James Dance Worship Team at 5:45, followed by A.I.G.A. Worship at 6:30, and the evening will be rounded out by Eddie James Ministries at 7:15. The Gospel artist and songwriter was part of the entertainment last year. He leads the program Discipleship N Arts and is an associate pastor at Nations Church in Orlando, Florida.
Monday’s activities include a carnival, kickball and cornhole tournaments, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, as well as a car show.
Participation in the car show itself is free from 3-5 p.m. both days, with car enthusiasts invited to sign up and show off their ride at www.covelife.churchcenter.com/people/forms/565249.
The basketball tournament is $30 per team and starts at 3 p.m. on Monday. Register three players and one alternate by June 30.
The cornhole tournament is $40 per team and likewise starts at 3 p.m. on Monday. The format is round robin to bracket double elimination, with ALC cornhole rules in effect. The payout is 50 percent for 1st place, with 2nd and 3rd places receiving trophies.
Monday night concludes with a drone show at 9 p.m.
Tuesday morning sees the first July 4th Freedom Run at 8 a.m., with preregistration of $30 by June 30, or $40 the day of the event.
Tuesday, the gates open at 1 p.m. and the festival begins at 3 p.m. with more festivities to include carnival rides, the car show, inflatables, with food and market vendors.
New entertainment this year also comes from recording artist Jason Crabb, who has won one Grammy and 21 Dove Awards. Jason Crabb will take the stage at 3:15 on Tuesday.
Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning Band, Sanctus Real, will also be part of the entertainment, at 5:00 on Tuesday.
Dove Award nominee, We Are Messengers, will take the stage at 6:30. The group has played for more than 600,000 people as a part of the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, the largest annual tour in Christian music, and has toured with Big Daddy Weave and the K-LOVE Christmas Tour alongside Steven Curtis Chapman. They will provide the entertainment at 6:30.
Eddie James Ministries will again round out the entertainment on Tuesday.
The celebration will culminate in a fireworks display, set to begin at 9:45 p.m.