The summer season hits its festive peak this holiday weekend with families and friends gathering nationwide to shoot fireworks, barbecue hamburgers and eat desserts involving blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream - all to celebrate our country’s independence. And since the 4th falls on a Sunday, many of us have Monday off – which means you have extra time to recuperate from all the weekend’s fun festivities!
1. 
‘Funny’ times at the Barn
Chaffin’s Barn Dinner Theatre has two shows running currently. Funny Money is a hilarious British farce from playwright Ray Cooney that is sure to have you in stitches; and Cinderella 8.0: Truly, Truly, Truly Outrageous is a new original children’s piece written by local authors Dietz Osborne and Nate Eppler that spins the classic fairytale in a distinctly 80′s direction. It may be for kids, but come to think of it, adults should get a kick out of the classic 80′s songs in the show. For info and tickets, visit www.dinnertheatre.com.
2. 
A Franklin Fourth
Franklin on the Fourth is back with entertainment, activities for the kids, food, a kid’s patriotic costume parade, fireworks and more. The event, presented by the City of Franklin and the Franklin Lions Club, runs from 12 to 10 p.m. on Sunday, highlighted by a Lorrie Morgan concert at 7 p.m. and Franklin’s annual July 4th fireworks display. The festival is free. Check out www.franklinonthefourth.com for more info.
3. 
A Brentwood Fourth
The City of Brentwood’s own popular 4th of July festivities are once again happening at the Eddy Arnold Amphitheater at Crockett Park this Sunday from 7 to 10:30 p.m. A Kadillacs concert kicks things off at 7 p.m., with fireworks at 9 and more Kadillacs music at 9:30. For more information, visit www.brentwood-tn.org.
4. 
Total ‘Eclipse’
Like any Independence Day weekend, the box office should be hopping. The Last Airbender is the first in a hoped-for (by the studio at least) franchise based on a popular Nickelodeon series. It’s directed by M. Night Shyamalan. But, unless you live under a rock, the big story this weekend is The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third installment in the insanely popular vampire/werewolf saga. It’s already breaking records since opening at midnight Tuesday night.
5. 
Grill it up
What better way to celebrate Independence Day than a classic summer barbecue cookout with family or friends. Gather your loved ones together and bask in the sun and fun of the summer holiday. And don’t forget the flag cake.
Safe and happy weekends to all and a Happy Fourth,
JT
-JT Landry, SEM Editor-in-Chief
