Hot dogs, watermelon, potato salad and fireworks, oh my! Believe it or not this weekend marks the 4th of July. The United States celebrates Independence Day to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th from Great Britain. Commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, baseball and speeches, the 4th also marks the unofficial halfway point of the summer season.

The national holiday is marked by decorating with the patriotic flag colors of red, white and blue with most observances or ceremonies taking place outdoors. Families often celebrated the 4th of July by picnicking or camping or visiting relatives.

Although the country's major displays are held in New York on the East River, in Chicago on Lake Michigan, in San Diego over Mission Bay, in Boston over the Charles River, in St. Louis on the Mississippi River, on the National Mall in Washington, DC, and at the Disney World theme park in Orlando, FL, the city of Crossville does a pretty magical display itself. Those fireworks are set for Saturday night, around 9-ish, at Centennial Park. Make sure you get there early so you can find a good parking spot for the annual display.

Crossville's Main Street will also be the site for another Independence Day celebration... the annual Daughters of the American Revolution Parade. It is set for 10 a.m. Children and those visiting in the area are asked to celebrate the 4th of July by participating in the parade. Billed as the "Children's Independence Day Parade," the annual event is sponsored by the Crab Orchard Chapter of the DAR. It is designed to promote patriotism and the love of country in the children.

Kids up to 12 are encouraged to wear red, white and blue clothing or other patriotic attire and to wave American flags during the parade. The parade will start at the Palace Theatre and proceed to the Depot. Lineup begins at 9:30. The children may either ride a bike, walk or ride their patriotically decorated non-motorized vehicles. They may also be pulled in wagons by parents or grandparents.

Already committed to participate are the Young Marines of Crossville. If you need additional information, call DAR Children's Parade chairman Sharon Howe at 459-2320 or Chapter Regent Martha Ballard at 707-0638.

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If you haven't purchased tickets to the musical comedy Hairspray at the Cumberland County Playhouse, I recommend you do so. I, along with some family and friends, went opening night to the blockbuster and enjoyed every single bit of it... as did the rest of the crowd. Centering around the 1960s Civil Rights movement, the show features several locals, resident actors, a few former Playhouse actors like Britt Hancock and some new faces as well.

I always love Britt Hancock (Corny Collins), Daniel Black (Wilbur Turnblad), Jason Ross (Edna Turnblad) and Weslie Webster (Velma Von Tussle) in any role they play. These actors are truly "triple threats" — they act, they sing and they dance all the way into the audience's hearts.

The role of Tracy Turnblad is played by a North Carolina resident. Sara Scronce is a graduate of Catawba College with a BA in theater arts and a minor in dance. She is delightful as the vivacious Baltimorian who pushes the envelope to change the way her weight and her black friends are perceived.

I also enjoyed Leila Nelson, who really busts her acting chops in this show. Her role calls for her to act like she can't dance, when she is, in fact, a very accomplished dancer. Leila, as Penny Pingleton, possesses a strong voice and delights the audience with her vocal prowess.

And speaking of vocal abilities... Lar'Juanette Williams raised the vocal bar with her renditions of "Big, Blonde and Beautiful" and "I Know Where I've Been." The audience was applauding before she ever sang the last verse.

Trust me, readers, her vocals alone are worth the ticket price. If you don't want to take my word for it, then consider this: she played the role of Effie White in the Broadway tour of Dreamgirls. Her third CD is due out soon.

And of course, the ensemble cast, as always, is amazing. I am almost hesitant to mention the names of my former student, as I always hate to leave someone out, but kudos to Jensen Crain, Kristin Galloway, Colt Irvin, Sara Nelson, Austin Price and Chaz Sanders who, along with the rest of the ensemble, were energetic, talented and fun!

Take a break from the heat and book some tickets to Hairspray. You may end up dancing in the aisles like lots of the audience did on opening night!

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If you are traveling over the 4th of July, please remember to exercise caution on the roadways, don't drink and drive and observe the speed limits. Tennessee Highway Patrol Officers will be out in full force as this is a very heavily traveled holiday. Also, if you are on the waterways, stay tuned to the weather, make sure you have enough life vests and again, please do not drink and drive!