Martinsville Speedway Offers Free Independence Day Events
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Martinsville Speedway is known for paint-scraping‚ bumper-thumping NASCAR action‚ but it hosts another event that also features plenty of fireworks: Celebration.
“Celebration occurs on the Friday or Saturday closest to July 4 and is a way to say ‘thank you’ to all citizens of Henry County for what they do in this community‚” says Mike Smith‚ director of public relations for the speedway.
All components of the event are free to the public. “City government‚ county government‚ local companies and Martinsville Speedway cover all costs for the day‚ which amounts to about $120‚000‚” Smith says.
The day begins in mid-afternoon with a carnival for children‚ which lasts until 8 p.m. A concert then takes place on a stage erected at the start/finish line of the speedway‚ with performances by one regional band and a national country music attraction. “In 2004‚ recording star Trace Adkins performed at Celebration‚” Smith says. “Other country music acts who have appeared here include Tracy Byrd‚ Aaron Tippin‚ Charlie Daniels and Montgomery Gentry.”
Celebration ends around 11 p.m. following a massive‚ half-hour-long fireworks display.
“We have always attracted a large turnout ever since Celebration began seven years ago‚” Smith says. “We don’t calculate specific attendance figures‚ but we estimate that half of Martinsville-Henry County shows up for the annual event. It’s always a big turnout.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Steve Sheppard
