Salute to Independence Return to HCC

HAGERSTOWN, Md. – June 26, 2023 – The Maryland Symphony Orchestra will present its annual Salute to Independence at 8:00 PM on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at the Alumni Amphitheater at Hagerstown Community College. Ryan Smetzer, local radio personality, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

This free event includes a concert by the orchestra and one of the largest fireworks displays in the region.

This is the third year HCC has hosted the concert, which was traditionally held at Antietam National Battlefield outside Sharpsburg. The event began in 1986. Bad weather resulted in a cancellation of the event in 2019, and it was then canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The concert was moved to the Hagerstown Community College amphitheater in 2021 as a result of ongoing construction at the battlefield's visitors center.

Seating in the amphitheater is limited to approximately 400; however, additional lawn seating is available for about 2,000 people. The campus will be open to guests beginning at 4:00 PM. Fireworks are set to begin at 9:30 PM. A variety of activities have been planned for children and families beginning at 4:00 PM including a campus scavenger hunt, sidewalk chalk garden, bounce castle, face paiting. Concessions will be available for purchase in the amphitheater and Kona Ice will be on site.

The community college is at 11400 Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown. The amphitheater is at the rear of the campus.

For more information, email info@marylandsymphony.org