Celebration 2013 Less Than Three Weeks Away

The countdown has begun: it's less than three weeks to the biggest Fourth of July party imaginable: Celebration 2013 at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday, July 3.

This will be the 15th consecutive year for Celebration at Martinsville Speedway. The entire night is free, from the music to carnival rides to fireworks. All concession items will be sold at reduced prices.

Night Ranger, the powerful rock group that ruled the charts in the 1980s and still has a huge following, will headline Celebration 2013. They scored multi-platinum hits like "Sister Christian," "When You Close Your Eyes," and "(You Can Still) Rock in America."

Like no other rock band, Night Ranger epitomized the sound and style of the 1980s, and that remains true today. They continue non-stop touring, playing to sold-out crowds around the world, including stops in Europe, Mexico, Canada, Japan and the United States.

Project 4, a rock and roll band from Roanoke, will open the entertainment portion of Celebration 2013 at 7 p.m.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Fuel For Families Food Drive will be held in conjunction with Celebration. Everyone attending the event is urged to bring non-perishable food and personal care items and drop them off at one of several collection areas at entrance gates and in the carnival ride area.

According to statistics provided by the United Way of Henry County and Martinsville, 26.4 percent of the population of Martinsville is food insecure and 18.3 percent of those living in Henry County are food insecure. Those numbers include approximately 3,600 children. Food insecure is defined as a lack of access, at times, to enough food for a healthy, active life for all household members.

In addition to the concert, there will be more than a dozen children's carnival rides and the evening will culminate with the largest fireworks' display in the area.

The children's rides will open at 5 p.m. and remain open until 11:30 p.m. The concert will begin at 8:30 p.m. followed by the fireworks. The entire event, including the rides, will be free of charge.

Celebration 2013 could not happen if not for many generous sponsors of the event. Those sponsors include: American Global Logistics; AmeriStaff; Applied Felts; Bassett Furniture; Bassett Office Supply; BB&T; Blue Ridge Aquaculture; Brad Parker Insurance Agency - Nationwide Insurance; Carter Bank & Trust; Chamber's Partnership for Economic Growth; City of Martinsville; Collinsville Printing Co.; Commonwealth Laminating; Cool Knobs and Pulls; Dillon Insurance; Eastman; Frith Construction; Gardner, Barrow, Sharpe and Reynolds; Henry County; Henry County Baptist Association; Hooker Furniture; Martinsville DuPont Credit Union; Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce; Martinsville Speedway; Martinsville Speedway Children's Foundation; Memorial Hospital of Martinsville-Henry County; Nelson Automotive; River Community Bank; RTI Martinsville, Inc.; Shenandoah Furniture; Southwestern Virginia Gas; Stanley Furniture; Steve Martin Trenching; Taco Bell; Tarheel Paper & Supply Co.; The Lester Group; TR Properties; Virginia Mirror; West Window and Zenith Logistics.