A tradition crosses the ocean

A tradition crosses the ocean

For those in the United States, the Fourth of July is a time when family, friends and entire communities celebrate the independence of their nation. On Independence Day, a holiday about pride and patriotism, after the local parade but before the municipal fireworks, intoxicating smells of barbecued ribs and hotdogs

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Wed 16 Jun 2010 10:00 PM

For those in the
United States, the Fourth of July is a time when family, friends and entire
communities celebrate the independence of their nation. On Independence Day, a
holiday about pride and patriotism, after the local parade but before the
municipal fireworks, intoxicating smells of barbecued ribs and hotdogs fill the
air while children play tag in the yard and adults sip ice-cold beer and
lemonade.

 

Although Florence
is an ocean away from the United States, The Tuscan American Association keeps
up the time-honored tradition by celebrating the Fourth of July on the banks of
the Arno. The Tuscan American Association, an independent nonprofit
organization, promotes cultural and economic exchange between Tuscany and the
United States.

 

On Sunday, July 4,
2010, from 5pm to midnight, together with event sponsors and collaborators, the
Tuscan American Association will host Independence Day at the Parco D’Arte E.
Pazzagli a Rovezzano, a sculpture park on the banks of the Arno that fuses art
with nature.

 

American and
Italian officials will be present the event along with a military band. 

 

The food will
range from traditional American picnic foods of hotdogs and hamburgers to
Italian cuisine. There will be sports games for adults and special activities
for children, as well as a raffle and live music-jazz, blues, country and rock.
The evening will wind up with a Super Lottery draw: the first prize, offered by
DELTA Airlines, is two roundtrip tickets to New York! 

 

New to this year’s
celebration is a mini-Main Street USA, a place for associations, businesses and
community service groups to promote their activities and products to the
community. Young artists will be displaying work on the theme ‘Tuscany and the
United States’ in the International Festival of Contemporary Art, a photographic
exhibit sponsored by Comunicazione Strategie Eventi by Studio Marcello Zeppi
and presented by Pro Loco Firenze.

 

A special
invitation has also been extended to the Fondazione Meyer, the Tuscany Rotary
Foundation, the Dynamo Foundation – Dynamo Camp, and the Sipario Association –
I ragazzi di Sipario to present their activities and exceptional services in a
special corner of Main Street that will be dedicated entirely to them.

 

As in past years,
the Tuscan American Association expects about 2,000 people at this very special
annual event.

 

 

FOURTH OF JULY 2010

5pm to 11:30pm

Parco d’Arte E.
Pazzagli a Rovezzano

via S. Andrea a
Rovezzano, 5. Florence

Event information: tel. 055/333378; www.toscanausa.org

 

Park information: www.pazzagli.com;
055/691114 and 348/3300352

 

Getting there

 

By bus: Take Ataf bus 14a (direction to Il Girone) to stop Aretina 11. See
www.ataf.net for a schedule.

 

By car from Florence: Take the Lungarno del Tempio road, driving toward
Pontassieve; pass the entrance of the highway connection A1; at the third
traffic light (Rovezzano Military Base) take a right and continue until the end
of the road, to the park entrance.

 

By car from the highway A1: Exit at Firenze Sud, continue on the highway
connection until the end; take a right at the traffic light onto viale Generale
Dalla Chiesa; at the second traffic light (Rovezzano Military Base) take a
right and continue until the end of the road, to the park entrance.

 

 

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