Fireworks in downtown Nashville
For the 4th, Gray’s parents and brother came up to Murfreesboro to hang out with us for the weekend. We gathered up in the van with Chad and Trina and drove to downtown Nashville to see their fireworks/music/4th of July extravaganza. We ended up getting there are 1:30 in the afternoon and the fireworks weren’t scheduled until 9pm. Obviously we had a lot of waiting to do.
Nashville’s display is ranked pretty high in the nation so we knew the all day camp out to watch them was worthy of our time.
We found a really good spot and spread out some blankets to stake our claim. There had been some discussion about coolers because the official websites said they weren’t allowed. We ended up getting ours out of the van because there were definitely coolers everywhere!
There were some fun things to do, like inflatables and walking around downtown. They also had a misting tent (my favorite part, it was HOT!) and freebies like ice cream… which helped in the tremendous heat. Trina and I actually stayed under umbrellas for a few hours because of the heat. Who cares about a tan, I just want to stay alive!
Then came the rain… we were prepared with umbrellas and ponchos and the first rain wasn’t so bad. It cleared up and we could hear a few of the performers (none of which I knew) while we waited. Sam showed up around 7:15 and by then it was getting so packed, she couldn’t find the stairs to come down to us! Once she got down to us, it was time for a last minute bathroom break. The port-a-potties were available but by this time we had realized that the restauraunts were much better. After a 15 minute wait, we made it into one and out. Of course, we realized we had to fight our way back down to our seat. Let’s just say, we all brought out the guns… we’re not really mean people unless we have to be… So Sam, Trina, and I fought our way back, not without a few people cussing us out and Sam had to push a child away from us. I’m pretty sure Trina was groped in the process. hah.
We made it back to our seats just in time. Wynona Judd had just finished and since it was about to rain AGAIN, they decided to go ahead and light the fireworks. Gray and I captured a small taste of the show to share with you all, it’s from the very beginning. I wish I had captured the finale because it truly captured the idea of being in a war zone, it was insane! For the record, usually the Nashville Sympony plays live alongside of the fireworks. This year because of the rain, they played beforehand and we listened to a recording.
Fireworks from Becca Sanborn on Vimeo.
P.S. – While we were in Nashville, the body of Steve McNair was found, just a few blocks away from where we were. It turned out that we drove past it just as they found his body. We found out before they announced it thanks to the technology of a cell phone. It’s a heart breaking loss for the Tennessee Titans, he took us all the way to the Superbowl back in 1999, the only time we’ve ever been. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers and thoughts as they mourn him in this horrible tragedy.
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Tags: 4th of July, Chad, fireworks, Nashville, Trina
It doesn't matter that the music was a recording, the symphony plays the same routine every year (that I have been).
I seriously wanted to cry at one point while trying to get back down the stairs. JERKS!