Bowie's Fourth of July Celebration Changes Venues

The city of Bowie will kick off a new Independence Day tradition this year—fireworks at Prince George’s Stadium.

Traditionally, the city holds its Fourth of July celebration at Allen Pond Park, but for a variety of reason it has chosen to team up with the Bowie Baysox this year to offer residents an expanded and more comfortable way to celebrate.

Matt Corley, the special events coordinator for the city, is excited about the change.

“In many ways we had outgrown Allen Pond as a venue,” Corley said said in a statement.

There were some safety concerns last year, with residents setting off their own fireworks in the crowd, according to the city. City officials say the ballpark will not only be a safer venue, but also more cost efficient.

“The setup at the ballpark allows us to better control access, and hopefully eliminate those types of concerns; while at the same time, we expect to spend less money on staffing. I think it’s a ‘win-win’ for everyone,” Bowie Mayor G. Frederick Robinson said in the statement.

The stadium also provides ample seating and bathrooms for the large crowd usually garnered by the Bowie Fourth of July fireworks. The stadium concession stands will also be open selling a variety of food and drinks.

This year’s celebration will begin at the stadium at 7 p.m. with a performance by the Fabulous Hubcaps Band, following by a fireworks display at approximately 9:15 p.m. Both the performance and the fireworks will be free of charge and tickets will not be required.

The celebration is a joint effort between the city and the Baysox. The Baysox will provide parking assistance and other event support, according to the city.

There is no game scheduled on July 4. Parking is free, and the stadium gates will open at 6 p.m.