WARREN Family events planned for the Fourth of July

The rock band Soul of One will perform a free concert during the festivities.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city's Independence Day is expanding to appeal to a wider audience.
Traditionally, Independence Day activities at Packard Park and W.D. Packard Music Hall include fireworks and an evening performance by the W.D. Packard Concert Band.
This year's event, a July 4 Family Day Celebration, begins at 3 p.m. and includes children's theater performances, a free concert by local rock band Soul of One, nature walks, kayaking on the Mahoning River, face painting and a puppet-making workshop in addition to the 8:15 p.m. W.D. Packard Band performance and fireworks display.
"We're just trying to expand the day for families," said Christopher Stephenson, music hall manager. "That's one of the ideas of the new foundation to grow new things."
The Packard Music Hall Foundation was established to raise money for the hall and to improve marketing.
Thursday's slate of activities is being sponsored by the foundation, the W.D. Packard Band, Mahoning River Consortium and the city. All events are free and open to the public.
Rocking the music hall
Jeff Price, Soul of One's production manager, said the band wanted to rekindle rock shows at the music hall.
"During the mid-'70s they had a show every Friday," he said.
The band of singer and bassist Jeff Reda, Joe Reda on drums and vocals and guitarists Brian Peebles and Mike Johnston, will perform the free shows from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. during the holiday celebration. All of the musicians are from the Boardman and Poland area.
There will be a charge for beer, and concessions which will go to the music hall.
Keeping with the Independence Day theme, the band plans to perform their original song, "Prisoner of War," written for the Redas' mother after finding their grandfather's diary. Their grandfather was a World War II veteran.
The band has performed as far away as Nashville and Washington, D.C., and at Hammer Jacks in Warren and the Niles Rib Cook-off.
"We're looking for exposure, sure, but we're trying to do something that's for the community," Price said. "If people support us this year, we'll do it again next year."
The band plans to produce a CD later this year.
Besides the events in the music hall and throughout the park, the National Packard Museum will have special hours Thursday. Call (330) 394-1899 for more information about the museum.
"We hope that it grows each year a little bit," Stephenson said.