Help celebrate America's birthday with the Kernels

The Cedar Rapids Kernels, in conjunction with the Freedom Festival, will host a flag raising ceremony, a pancake breakfast, and a Kernels baseball game with postgame fireworks for fans, veterans, and the general public to celebrate the Fourth of July.

The day begins at 7:45 a.m. with a flag raising ceremony, complete with a performance of the National Anthem and a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Local performers will sing the Anthem as veterans and area service men raise our nation's Stars and Stripes.

A pancake breakfast will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cost for the event is $5 for adults, $3 for children (10 and under), but anyone wearing a Freedom Festival button will get a $1 discount. Those partaking in the pancake breakfast will also be entertained by acoustic pop guitarist Terry McCauley - a Freedom Festival mainstay for the past 12 years.

The night concludes with a Kernels baseball game against the Burlington Bees. Gates open at 4 p.m. with first pitch at 5:05. Midwest Dueling Pianos will be on hand to serenade during the pregame festivities and in between innings, and kids have the opportunity to run the bases and play catch in the outfield after the game.

It wouldn't be July 4th without fireworks. Fans are encouraged to stay at the ballpark after the Kernels game and enjoy two different fireworks displays occurring simultaneously - one at Veterans Memorial Stadium the other from downtown.

Tickets for all Kernel home games are available on-line at www.kernels.com; in person at the Kernels Ticket Office, or by calling 896-7560 during Ticket Office Hours. The Kernels Ticket Office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.