Berwick, Morgan City make plans for Fourth

Choose a side of the riverfront to rock out or party this Independence Day with Berwick’s Rockin’ the Riverfront or Morgan City’s Party in the Park.
Berwick’s patriotic celebration will be 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Lighthouse Park and adjacent areas along the riverfront. The event is free and open to the public with music provided by Whiskey Bayou Band from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
“Bring your lawn chairs, sunscreen, umbrellas, bug repellant,” said Mayor Louis Ratcliff. “Bring your family and enjoy being out on the river.”
Burgers, sodas and beer will be available for purchase provided by Berwick’s Fire Department. The Fire Department uses this event as an annual fundraiser.
Also, local snowball stand, the Big Chill, will be providing snowballs, kettle corn, lemonade, and etc. for purchase. In the event of rain or other inclement weather, the celebration will be moved under the bridge by city hall.
“We hope it doesn’t rain but if it does we will continue to do it,” said Ratcliff.
Boat traffic is allowed but boats cannot be docked in the area in which the fireworks are to be released.
Morgan City’s Party in the Park will be 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Lawrence Park. The event is also free and open to the public with music being provided by Driftwood and Groovy 7.
Refreshments will be available for purchase from several vendors. Tellman BBQ team will provide plate lunches, X-treme Sports will provide fair burgers, Immanuel Baptist Church will provide soft drinks, and Morgan City Main Street will have a beer and sangria booth.
“We ask that people don’t bring their own food since the food vendors are raising money for a cause,” said Beth Portero, Main Street director. “Bring your dancing shoes, lawn chairs and blankets.”
Money raised from refreshment sales will go to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps League, local sports teams, mission trips of Immanuel Baptist Church, and downtown Morgan City.
Pharr Chapel Church will also have a free kids corner for children’s activities.
In the event the floodgates have to reclose, people are still allowed to stand on the flood wall or walk up and stand on the Long-Allen bridge.
In the event of rain or inclement weather, Morgan City doesn’t have a tentative plan, but the fireworks will be rescheduled.
Morgan City and Berwick both participated in the cost of the fireworks, which start at 9 p.m. A barge is placed between the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad and E.J. “Lionel” Grizzaffi bridges so locals can see the fireworks from both sides of the river.
KQKI 95.3 FM will air patriotic music that will be synchronized to the fireworks.