As the Fourth of July approaches, plans are being finalized for the holiday weekend. The Bismarck-Mandan Symphony will hold its sixth annual concert at the Capitol grounds July 4. Mandan will hold its 43rd annual Jaycee Rodeo with music events July 1-4. The concert features guest soloist Gregory Lorenz, a University of Mary and Julliard School of Music graduate who sings with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. The performance will include patriotic songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gershwin, Bernstein and Sousa.
Fireworks follow the show when the sky is dark enough.
Conductor Tom Wellin said the event attracted more than 6,000 people last year and he expects that number to grow to 10,000 or 15,000 this year. People bring their lawn chairs or blankets to watch. A performance will also be held for the Wally Byam Caravan Club International Rally July 3 at the Bismarck Civic Center. The Mandan rodeos will feature bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling and team roping. Family night is July 2 with a barbecue at Dakota Community Bank in Mandan.