The city of Jennings will celebrate the Fourth of July in grand style on Saturday, July 1 with its annual Stars and Stripes Festival and Market.

The family-friendly patriotic celebration will return to the Louisiana Oil and Gas Park, located at the intersection of Interstate 10 and La. 26 (Exit 64).

Other than food, all events are free and open to the public.

Activities begin at 8 a.m. with the Stars and Stripes Market with more than 40 craft and food vendors located throughout the park. The market will be open till 1 p.m.

The fun continues at 5 p.m. with food trucks, water slides, games, music and a fireworks show, according to City Event Coordinator Katelynn Little. The Gator Chateau will also be open for visitors to see the live alligators and hold a baby alligator.

“This is a great way for us all to celebrate the Fourth of July and bring everyone together,” Little said. “I expect to see a lot of people there. We had over a thousand people for our Touch A Truck event, which was our last event, so I expect to see the same number of people, if not more.”

There will be food and craft vendors selling arts, crafts and novelty items.

All food and beverage prices are affordable. Food vendors will include coffee, sno-cones, local Cajun and festival favorites.

Entertainment will be provided by a DJ who will be spinning a variety of music throughout the event.

The celebration will be topped off with a fireworks extravaganza lighting up the night sky over Jennings beginning at 9 p.m. The display, which is under the direction of the Jennings Fire Department, will last 15-20 minutes.

“The fireworks will be the show stopper,” Little said, promising a bigger and better show than last year. “Those in the I-10 park will have a front row seat to view the fireworks.”

Jennings Fire Chief Ashley Navarre said the fire department will be releasing the fireworks from the airport property across the interstate just south of the park.

“It will be a phenomenal as always,” Navarre said. “We always do our best every year. We really look forward to doing two fireworks shows a year for everybody at the Fourth of July and Christmas.”

Festival goers are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy the festivities and stay for the fireworks. Ice chests will be allowed, but no glass bottles.

A barbecue contest originally planned for the Fourth of July has been postponed until the fall.

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For more information visit the City of Jennings Facebook page.