WPB Firefighters To “Hang Out” on Phillips Point
Jun 30, 2009 - 4th on Flagler, Community Events, Fire Department, Mayor's Office
Firefighters to Practice Their 4th of July Rappel Down New Building
WHO: City of West Palm Beach Fire Rescue Department
WHAT: Practice Run of Rappel & Flag Unfurling for 4th on Flagler
If you see WPB firefighters hanging off the side of Phillips Point, there is no need for alarm and there is no emergency. The City’s firefighters will simply be practicing their annual 4th on Flagler rappel and flag unfurling at a new location.
The 4th on Flagler event site has moved slightly south this year along Flagler Drive due to construction of the new West Palm Beach waterfront project. The 2009 event site will be on Flagler Drive from Fern Street to Lakeview Avenue, with additional activities in Trinity Park.
Due to the move, WPB firefighters had to relocate their unique 4th on Flagler tradition to Phillips Point, where guests can watch the firefighters unfurl a giant four-story high American flag as they rappel down the building. After the flag unfurl, all guests are then invited to salute our country and pledge allegiance to the flag. The management team at Phillips Point has been more than happy to host the firefighters this year as they become familiar with their new location and try a few practice runs before the big night on the 4th of July.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Phillips Point Building, 777 South Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
**Firefighters will rappel down the East Tower, on the north side of the building. Reporters and photographers can view the rappel and flag unfurling from Trinity Park.**
FUN FACTS:
This is the 7th year the City of West Palm Beach Firefighters have unfurled the giant flag.
It takes a total of 8 firefighters to safely rappel and unfurl the giant flag.
The firefighters will use approximately 1500 feet of rope for the rappel and flag unfurl.
The firefighters will practice approximately 10 times on three different days before the event.
The giant flag is 50 feet long, which is approximately four stories high.
Portion of Flagler Drive closed for Stormwater work
Jun 30, 2009 - Mayor's Office, Public Utilities, Traffic
When: Beginning Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at 6:00 a.m.
Affected Area: Flagler Drive between Banyan Blvd. and Fern Street
Due to necessary stormwater improvements, Flagler Drive will be closed between Banyan Boulevard and Fern Street beginning Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at 6:00 a.m. The road is expected to reopen by September 30, 2009.
All residents, business and their customers will have access to their destinations near the construction area. The City has coordinated with local businesses and residences in an effort to minimize the project’s impact. The new City public docks along Flagler Drive will remain open to the public throughout the road work. The project will not affect the City’s 4th on Flagler festivities which will be located between Fern Street and Lakeview Avenue.
Northbound traffic on Flagler Drive will detour at Fern Street to Olive Avenue. Southbound traffic on Flagler Drive will detour at Banyan Boulevard to Narcissus Avenue.
City of WPB Independence Day Schedule
Jun 29, 2009 - Mayor's Office, Public Works
(06/29/09) All City of West Palm Beach offices, including City Hall, will be closed on Friday, July 3rd, 2009, in observance of Independence Day.
There WILL be garbage, yard waste and recycling pickup as scheduled on both Friday, July 3rd, and Saturday, July 4th, 2009.
4th on Flagler 2009 to LET FREEDOM RING!
Jun 25, 2009 - 4th on Flagler, Community Events, Mayor's Office
WHAT: 4th on Flagler 2009 – Let Freedom Ring!
4th on Flagler is the area’s biggest and best Fourth of July celebration. Residents and visitors can enjoy fireworks, food, concerts and much more along the City’s stunning waterfront. This year the City of West Palm Beach will Let Freedom Ring!
Event patrons can help Let Freedom Ring by picking up small bells in the kids’ area or at information booths. All guests with bells will then be asked to help honor our military and celebrate our freedom by ringing loudly them right before the start of the fireworks show at 9:00 p.m. Guests are asked to listen for the cue.
This year’s event will also feature a meaningful bell tolling and moment of silence at 7:30 p.m. to honor all of the heroes who lost their lives serving our country and protecting our freedom.
WHEN: Saturday, July 4, 2009 5:00-10:00 p.m.
WHERE: Downtown West Palm Beach, Florida
**EVENT LOCATION HAS CHANGED THIS YEAR DUE TO WATERFRONT CONSTRUCTION.**
- Activities will be taking place along Flagler Drive between Fern Street and Lakeview Avenue, and in Trinity Park.
- There will be NO activities from Banyan Blvd. to Fern Street due to construction for the new City Commons waterfront project. There will also be NO activities at the Meyer Amphitheatre.
- The new WPB City docks will be open to the public during the July 4th holiday. See below for more details on dock usage during the holiday.
- Flagler Drive will be completely closed from Banyan Blvd. to Lakeview Ave. from Friday, July 3 at 9:00 a.m. to Saturday, July 5 at 12:00 p.m.
ADMISSION: FREE!
HIGHLIGHTS: National City Fireworks Show
This fireworks extravaganza begins at 9:00 p.m.
No personal fireworks allowed. All personal fireworks will be confiscated.
Mayor’s Remarks & Patriotic Program
At 7:30 p.m. on the South Stage (Flagler Drive and Lakeview Avenue)
Mayor Lois Frankel will take the stage to welcome event guests and to honor the brave men and women that have served our country. This year’s event will feature a special ceremony to salute all of the heroes who gave their lives serving our country and protecting our freedom with a symbolic bell tolling and a moment of silence.
Musical Entertainment
Guests can enjoy two stages of entertainment and a DJ dance area:
The DJ Dance Area (Located in Trinity Park, just north of Lakeview Avenue) will feature great party music for those who want to dance the night away.
The North Stage (Located on Flagler Drive, just south of Fern Street) will feature the rockin’ sounds of Riverdown and Big Bang Radio.
The South Stage (Located on Flagler Drive, just north of Lakeview Avenue) will feature the acoustic rock of Taylor Road, the pop/R&B stylings of the Derek Mack Band, and the Wild 95.5 Hour after the fireworks show featuring national recording artist, KEVIN RUDOLF (Let It Rock and Welcome to the World).
Unfurling of the Red, White and Blue:
At approximately 8:45 p.m. at Phillips Point
In a grand tradition unique to the 4th on Flagler, guests can watch the unfurling of a giant four-story high American Flag from the Phillips Point building (Flagler Drive and Lakeview) by the West Palm Beach Fire Department. Then guests can join in saluting our country as all are invited to Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.
Firefighters’ Splash and Dash Skills Competition
At 5:15 p.m. along Flagler Drive, just south of Fern Street
Guests can cheer on their favorite local Fire Department as they compete in a friendly rivalry with a series of wet and wacky games that put their firefighting skills to the test. Games include a target knockdown, a water battle, a keg roll, and the bucket brigade. This is what you call fighting fire with FUN!
All-American Kids’ Area
** New Location: in Trinity Park – just North of Lakeview Avenue**
At the Kid’s Area, children can pick up their own small bell to decorate (for free), and then join in the ringing at 9:00 p.m. to help Let Freedom Ring! Children can also enjoy lots more free crafts and games coordinated by the City’s Parks & Recreation Department.
Food and Beverages:
A tasty array of food and beverages will be offered at reasonable prices at a number of locations throughout the event site.
No grills or other cooking devices allowed due to safety reasons.
PARKING: Ample public parking is available at the following City garages and surface lots at reasonable rates (between $5 and $10):
- The Evernia Garage located at Evernia Street and Olive Avenue, just two blocks South of Clematis Street
- The Banyan Garage located at Banyan Boulevard and Olive Avenue, just one block North of Clematis Street
- The NEW Clematis Garage located on Quadrille Boulevard in between Clematis Street and Banyan Boulevard
- The NEW City Center Garage located on the corner of Banyan Boulevard and Dixie Highway
- The City “B” Lot, a surface parking lot located on Datura Street in between Dixie Highway and Quadrille Avenue
- The “Old City Hall” Lot, a surface parking lot located outside of the old City Hall on Banyan Boulevard in between Olive Avenue and Narcissus Avenue
- The Police Garage located in the 600 block of Clematis Street in between Rosemary Avenue and Sapodilla Avenue
There are also 1500 available parking meters in the downtown area that will all be FREE on the July 4th holiday.
There will be a new $5 motorcycle-only parking lot close to the event site. The designated motorcycle parking lot is located on the south side of the old City Hall building, off of Banyan Boulevard and just east of Olive Avenue. There will be an attendant on duty at this lot.
There are also numerous private parking lots in the downtown area that are also available for event parking.
A detailed traffic plan is in place to ease visitor traffic flow out of downtown following the event.
CITY DOCKS: The three new West Palm Beach City docks will be open to the public for FREE on July 4th for vessels and pedestrians. The three docks can accommodate up to 50 vessels which will be allowed to tie up on a first-come, first-served basis. However, there will be NO DOCKING ACTIVITY for vessels between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Vessels will not be allowed to enter or leave the docks during this time due to the fireworks show. Guests planning to use the docks on July 4 should make note of these times and plan accordingly.
SPONSORS: National City, Wild 95.5, Kool 105.5, Mia 92.1, Gater 98.7, Newsradio 1290 WJNO, The Palm Beach Post, La Palma, WPTV NewsChannel 5, Palm Beach County, The Town of Palm Beach, Good Samaritan Medical Center, Southern Waste Systems, Jimmy John’s, Budweiser, Taverna Opa, Wild Ginger, City Pizza, Coca-Cola, the West Palm Beach Marriott, and Steinger, Iscoe & Greene
ATTENDANCE: Approximately 80,000 – 100,000 people are expected to attend
PRODUCED BY: The City of West Palm Beach Mayor’s Office, Division of Community Events
INFORMATION: (561) 822-1515 or www.wpb.org/4th
WPB Presents a FAB Concert with THE FABULONS for FREE!
Jun 22, 2009 - Community Events, Sunday at the Meyer
(June 22, 2009 – West Palm Beach, FL) – Looking for great fun that won’t break the bank? The City of West Palm Beach will present a fabulous concert this weekend with Florida’s favorite party band, The Fabulons, as part of its Sunday at the Meyer concert series. Guests can enjoy a great Sunday afternoon at the Meyer with good times and tons of fun along the picturesque downtown waterfront – all for FREE! The event features a FREE concert with great entertainment, FREE kids’ activities, FREE cookies from the Mayor, and FREE parking at all City meters, lots and garages. Guests arriving by boat can also tie up their vessels for FREE at the beautiful new City docks.
DATE: Sunday, June 28
TIME: 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM
LOCATION: Meyer Amphitheatre in Downtown West Palm Beach
PERFORMER: THE FABULONS www.fabulons.com
Now celebrating their 24th anniversary, The Fabulons continue to be Florida’s favorite party band. This show/dance/variety/band performs a wide variety of music, including Motown, 1950’s Doo-Wop & A Capella, classic rock, disco, R&B, Beach Boys, Beatles, best of the girl groups, “Grease”, standards, and anything else the audience requests! They have opened for numerous legends including The Temptations and Blood, Sweat & Tears, and have even appeared in the hit movie “The Boynton Beach Club.”
UPCOMING CONCERTS:
JULY 26 AMBROSIA www.ambrosialive.net
AUGUST 23 FIREFALL www.firefall.com
SEPTEMBER 27 THE TOKENS www.thetokens.com
OCTOBER 25 SUGARFOOT’s OHIO PLAYERS www.myspace.com/sugarfootop
The Palm Beach Post Sunday at the Meyer is bringing Fab Tunes, A Cool Scene and Good Vibes to downtown West Palm Beach. These FREE family-friendly concerts are held on the 4th Sunday of each month (May through October) from 4:30 to 7:30 pm at the Meyer Amphitheatre and feature a variety of national and regional recording artists. Located along the downtown waterfront, The Palm Beach Post Sunday at the Meyer provides an ideal setting to relax and unwind, get together with family and friends, and listen to some great entertainment. Guests are welcome to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs, and they can also purchase food and beverages at the concert. The Palm Beach Post Sunday at the Meyer is produced by the City of West Palm Beach and sponsored by The Palm Beach Post, National City, KOOL 105.5 FM, Newsradio 1290 WJNO, Palm Beach Daily News, Southern Waste Systems, Coca-Cola, and the West Palm Beach Marriott. For more information, please call 561-822-1515 or visit www.wpb.org.