BRISTOL, Va. – Roll out the red carpet. And pack your favorite napkin.
Bristol celebrates the Fourth of July this year with “Star-Spangled Weekend,” which includes a gathering at Cumberland Square Park plus a grand reopening of the Bristol train station.
You can enjoy live music.
You can also help raise money for the Bristol Historical Association and have “Dinner in the Diner,” eating inside a 1950 Moultrie Diner on the tracks near the train station.
Part of the Atlantic Coast line Railroad, the diner now belongs to the Watauga Valley Chapter National Railway Historical Society.
It has been restored to its original 36-seat dining car configuration, reflecting the golden years of passenger train travel, said Amy Hopper, a Bristol Historical Association volunteer.
“This car will be available for the public to come in and see,” Hopper said.
You can have dinner in the car on July 2 or 3 – both days at 6:30 p.m. – with catering by K.P. Duty. Visitors can tour the car on July 4, noon-5 p.m., and sign up to have a meal – again – on July 5 with servings at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., catered by the Troutdale Dining Room.
“It’s something of a bygone era,” Hopper said. “You’re going to be able to sit back in history.”
“Dinner in the Diner” is all part of the grand reopening of the Bristol train station, Hopper said.
But, wait – there’s more, even before.
BIG PARTY
Bristol’s big party includes a White Sox baseball game at 7 p.m. July 3 at DeVault Stadium, followed by 10 p.m. fireworks.
Then there’s the parade, lining up on Morrison Boulevard at 8 a.m. July 4 and marching down State Street at 10 a.m., then continuing east into downtown Bristol.
After that, come to Cumberland Square Park for a citywide picnic of hot dogs, chips and water plus live music at 11:30 a.m. by the Bristol Virginia Show Choir, a historic portrayal of Patrick Henry by retired educator Ron Smith and a book signing by “Rocket Ron” author George Stone.
Trey Hensley performs at 12:30 p.m., singing country music.
At noon, meanwhile, the Mountain Empire Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America gathers with 100 antique vehicles at noon at the Tri Summit Bank parking lot at the corner of State Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Judging takes place at 2 p.m.
Also at 2 p.m., look for the Bristol Union Railway Station reopening with an official ceremony followed by historical portrayals by Theatre Bristol and music provided by Bristol’s Own Dixieland Band.
The event also includes an exhibit of historic railroad photographs by the late O. Winston Link. The photographs – capturing the final days of steam trains in the 1950s – are slated to be on exhibit through July 7.
On July 5, another celebration starts at 3 p.m. with the dedication of the Overmountain Patriots of the American Revolution Monument at the Veterans Memorial of Cumberland Square Park by members of the Fort Chiswell Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.
The large stone – mounted with a bronze plaque – honors the Overmountain Men from the Bristol area that fought in decisive Revolutionary War battles, such as the Battle of Kings Mountain.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
What: “Dinner in the Diner”
How much: $50 per person (with $25 of each ticket going to raise money for the Bristol Historical Association)
When: July 2-3 (6:30 p.m.) and July 5 (12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.)
Info: Carolyn Williams, (276) 669-6506; and Roxanne Coulthard, (276) 466-5357
CELEBRATE BRISTOL
Info: (423) 943-8192
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