Lexan Properties, which owns Celebration, a town not far from Walt Disney World, hired Jon Adcock, the owner of PTE Productions, to transform the quaint town, reminiscent of Mayberry in The Andy Griffith Show into a full-on Fourth of July bash. No inch of Celebration was left without some form of patriotic detail. "Instead of only transforming one part of town, the goal was to have guests experience all Celebration has to offer, so we created various festive areas from one end of town to the other," said Adcock. It took three months of planning and a crew of 50 people three days to create the event.
Three stages set up throughout main street featured a variety of entertainment, which Metropolis Productions helped coordinate. Performances included the Celebration Players Community Theatre, high-energy shows from the Extreme Acrobats, strolling dancers, and stilt-walkers. The acrobats leapt and tumbled off a mock building on one end of Main Street. Other tricksters who delighted the crowds included the Acro Breakers (funky break dancers) and extreme in-line skaters who used a ramp to twist and turn in the air. On the other end, the smooth sounds of a capella group CitySound mesmerized the crowd outside the Celebration Hotel, which was lined with food and beverage vendors selling barbecue fare and frozen cocktails. All 60 performers wore patriotic costumes made by Metropolis Productions' in-house costume department. If that wasn't enough to get the crowd's attention, Metropolis' 15-foot-tall patriotic puppets (made of Styrofoam and attached to backpack-like harnesses that enabled their handlers to strut them around town) towered over guests.
Lisa Z and the Funhouse Band took over the 24- by 32-foot main stage, performing hits from the 1970's, 80's, and today from Prince to Gwen Stefani. Their highly energetic performance kept the crowd going the entire night. Adjacent to the stage, a 10- by 13-foot LED wall displayed sponsor logos and live footage of everything that was taking place throughout the areas so no one would miss a thing.
Since a Fourth of July bash isn't complete without fireworks, PTE orchestrated an 18-minute finale synchronized to music. The celebration continued from the main stage, when 2,000 50-foot long Mylar streamers shot out into the crowd, covering everyone in the vicinity. Sixty rolls of crepe paper were also unrolled by partygoers, who got wrapped up in all the fun until 10 PM.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Photos: Alex Della Gatta (acrobats/skaters, jumping performers, crepe paper, streamers)
Three stages set up throughout main street featured a variety of entertainment, which Metropolis Productions helped coordinate. Performances included the Celebration Players Community Theatre, high-energy shows from the Extreme Acrobats, strolling dancers, and stilt-walkers. The acrobats leapt and tumbled off a mock building on one end of Main Street. Other tricksters who delighted the crowds included the Acro Breakers (funky break dancers) and extreme in-line skaters who used a ramp to twist and turn in the air. On the other end, the smooth sounds of a capella group CitySound mesmerized the crowd outside the Celebration Hotel, which was lined with food and beverage vendors selling barbecue fare and frozen cocktails. All 60 performers wore patriotic costumes made by Metropolis Productions' in-house costume department. If that wasn't enough to get the crowd's attention, Metropolis' 15-foot-tall patriotic puppets (made of Styrofoam and attached to backpack-like harnesses that enabled their handlers to strut them around town) towered over guests.
Lisa Z and the Funhouse Band took over the 24- by 32-foot main stage, performing hits from the 1970's, 80's, and today from Prince to Gwen Stefani. Their highly energetic performance kept the crowd going the entire night. Adjacent to the stage, a 10- by 13-foot LED wall displayed sponsor logos and live footage of everything that was taking place throughout the areas so no one would miss a thing.
Since a Fourth of July bash isn't complete without fireworks, PTE orchestrated an 18-minute finale synchronized to music. The celebration continued from the main stage, when 2,000 50-foot long Mylar streamers shot out into the crowd, covering everyone in the vicinity. Sixty rolls of crepe paper were also unrolled by partygoers, who got wrapped up in all the fun until 10 PM.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Photos: Alex Della Gatta (acrobats/skaters, jumping performers, crepe paper, streamers)
For the town of Celebration's July Fourth bash, Metropolis Productions' 15-foot-tall patriotic puppets roamed through the crowd.
Stilt-walkers posed for the camera before mingling with guests.
The members of Extreme Acrobats jumped off a faux building onto a trampoline as skaters performed tricks off a ramp.
The Acro Breakers performed several routines and got the crowd ready for the acrobatic show.
Lisa Z and the Funhouse Band sang hits from Prince to Gwen Stefani on the main stage.
These performers bounced and jumped their way across town thanks to special shoes.
Guests dancing to the beat had even more fun when 60 rolls of crepe paper were streamed over them.
Red, silver, and blue Mylar streamers were shot over the crowd during the fireworks finale.
