ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The heat isn\u2019t stopping the celebrations up to bat at Coca-Cola Park for its back-to-back America 250 events.<\/p>\n
69 News Reporter Sydney Kay takes us inside the park in Allentown ahead of Friday\u2019s patriotic fun taking the field.<\/p>\n
America is swinging for the fences at Coca-Cola Park in honor of the 250th.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all part of the park\u2019s \u2018Liberty Ignited\u2019 event Friday, bringing performances, a light show of 300 drones, and its largest fireworks show in history.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an eight-foot-tall Declaration of Independence that everybody who attends the event can sign,\u201d said Matthew Bari, the vice president of marketing and entertainment with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.<\/p>\n
More than 20 organizations will be throughout the concourse, such as The League of Women Voters of Lehigh County.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have forms, we have information about the league, we have information about voting\u2026 We stand for justice and we stand for civic education,\u201d said Mary Erdman, the former president with The League of Women Voters of Lehigh County.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re dressed the part.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m Katharine Wentworth Ruschenberger\u2026 Katharine believed very deeply in justice for everyone in the country and Pennsylvania specifically,\u201d said Nell Sokalski, a member of the group.<\/p>\n
Friday night, they\u2019ll be portraying important women in our country\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelva Ann Lockwood\u2026 She was really an advocate for women\u2019s rights, Indian rights, from the civil war,\u201d said Lisa Dolan, The League of Women Voters of Lehigh County\u2019s web master.<\/p>\n
One of those women isn\u2019t in history books, but rather a family tree.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to be portraying my great-grandmother, Mary Hettinger\u2026 We found a picture that shows in 1915 she has a car that says, \u2018votes for women\u2019 on it,\u201d said member Kathleen Parsons.<\/p>\n
Due to the heat wave, guests are allowed to bring in factory-sealed, plastic water bottles for both Friday and Saturday’s events. Park officials are encouraging guests to hydrate early.<\/p>\n
Officials are also recommending folks arrive ahead of schedule. With gates opening at 6 p.m., they\u2019re expecting heavy traffic surrounding the park.<\/p>\n
The \u2018Liberty Ignited\u2019 event kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday\u2019s \u2018Great American Blast\u2019 will take place July 4th at 6:15 p.m. with fireworks at 9:15 p.m.<\/p>\n