Lining up your Stars and Stripes Celebration

Hey, baby, it’s the Fourth of July. Where's your best spot to check the fireworks displays?

• Thanks to sponsor Stuart & Branigin for continued support of the Based in Lafayette reporting project.

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Hey, baby, it’s the Fourth of July.

The Stars and Stripes Celebration, the annual July Fourth concerts and fireworks in downtown Lafayette, is ready to go.

Here’s the entertainment schedule for Stars and Stripes at Riehle Plaza, near the corner of Second and Main streets:

• 5 p.m.: Food truck vendors will be open

• 6 p.m.: Lafayette Jeff Jazz Combo and Alumni Band

• 7 p.m. Clave Caribe

• 8 p.m.: Lafayette Citizens Band and Freedom Singers

• 9 p.m.: Tippecanoe Ancient Fife and Drum Corps

• 9:15 p.m.: Lafayette Citizens Band and Freedom Singers

• 10 p.m.: Fireworks, with music synced on Q106.7 FM

For the full program, here’s the link.

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Forecast: The temperature is expected to be 89 degrees with mostly sunny skies by the music starts at Riehle Plaza.

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Traffic/street closings: The fireworks show will launch from Harrison Bridge, north of downtown. Along with prep happening at Riehle Plaza for Stars and Stripes, that means some traffic restrictions Friday. This comes from Lafayette police:

9 a.m.-midnight Friday:

• Eastbound Harrison Bridge will be closed.

Noon-midnight Friday: The following will be closed:

• Second Street, between Ferry and Columbia streets

• Main Street, between Second and Third streets

• Ferry Street at Third Street. (Accessible for Renaissance residents, Ferry Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic west of Renaissance Garage.)

• Columbia Steet (westbound) Bridge sidewalk (Renaissance and Marq residents will have access to their garages.)

6 p.m.-midnight Friday: The following will be closed:

• Canal Road southbound from the entrance to Lyboult Field, 1300 Canal Road

• All ramps going to Harrison Street bridge eastbound and westbound lanes.

• Westbound Harrison Bridge

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(Photo: Unsplash)

The best fireworks vantage points

Where are you catching fireworks on the Fourth? What’s the best vantage point, whether to catch the Stars and Stripes show from the heart of Riehle Plaza, from a more remote spot or maybe of another display elsewhere?

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