The annual Fourth of July celebration at Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton was started nearly 50 years ago by The Statler Brothers with the idea of celebrating our nation’s heritage with a free concert, parade and fireworks for the hometown folks. More information regarding schedule and events will be available closer to the event. Sons of the Statler Brothers bring their fathers' annual Fourth of July celebration back to Gypsy Hill Park's John Moxie Stadium. Virginia's Fourth of July marked the end of a 25-year tradition in Staunton. About 100,000 people boot-scooted into the Western Virginia town for the 25th and final ``Happy Birthday U.S.A.'' concert by the city's favorite sons, country music's Statler Brothers. Wear your red, white, and blue and join in all the community fun this 4th of July. If you’re from the Staunton area, you grew up attending the free big-name summer concerts home-grown heroes the Statler Brothers brought to the park each summer. The Statler Brothers continued the tradition for 25 years, with the celebration drawing as many as 100,000 to the Queen City to see country music legends like Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Reba The Statler Brothers (sometimes simply referred to as The Statlers) were an American country music, gospel, and vocal group from Staunton, Virginia. The quartet was formed in 1955 performing locally, and from 1964 to 1972, they sang as opening act and backup singers for Johnny Cash. Shop Statler Brothers: 4th Of July Celebration products at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up. Price Match Guarantee. Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday America! This is the event that started in our hometown of Staunton, VA back in 1970 by The Statler Brothers. The event spans two days, July 3 & 4 at Gypsy Hill Park. a full schedule is at HappyBirthdayAmerica.org. And the entire event is FREEthe only thing you need to bring is your lawn chair. No ticket It was July 4, 1970. And the double Hall of Fame country music group, The Statler Brothers, were doing what they do best: singing and giving back to their fans. The idea was thought of a year earlier, driving around their park, Gypsy Hill Park, and noticing only a few picnickers and Frisbee-throwers present on this lazy summer afternoon. Starting in 1970, the Statler Brothers brought free summer concerts to their native Staunton each July 4th for Happy Birthday U.S.A. Regularly drawing well over 50,000 guests (and sometimes as many as 100,000), the concerts were massive hits. The free events include a vespers service on July 3 and a 5K race, parade, and concert featuring Wilson Fairchild and Emily Ann Roberts on July 4. Wilson Fairchild, who created Happy Birthday America, are cousins and sons of Statler Brothers members, reviving a tradition their fathers started. Come celebrate America's birthday with one of the most beloved and enduring groups in Country history. For 25 years, Harold, Phil, Jimmy and Don celebrated the 4th of July by throwing a concert in their hometown of Staunton, Virginia. STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) -Staunton residents celebrated 4th of July at the annual ‘Happy Birthday, America’ event. Wil and Langdon Reid of music group Wilson Fairchild said their fathers, The For decades, the "chair dash" was a long-standing tradition in Staunton's Gypsy Hill Park on the 4th of July. The free concert would attract tens of thousands of people from all across the United States for a traditional and patriotic celebration hosted by The Statler Brothers. Happy Birthday America continues this tradition in 2019. Originally organized by the Statler Brothers in 1970, the event was known as Happy Birthday USA through 1994 and then America’s Birthday Celebration (ABC) from 1995 to 2017. Happy Birthday America was rebooted in 2018 by Wil and Langdon Reid. The annual Fourth of July celebration at Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton was started nearly 50 years ago by The Statler Brothers with the idea of celebrating our nation’s heritage with a free concert, parade and fireworks for the hometown folks. It was the parade, the carnival games, the fireworks and, of course, the Statler Brothers, all a big part of Ferguson's childhood. To this day she's a big fan of the Statler Brothers, a legendary country music group from Staunton who, for 25 years, performed a free concert at Moxie Stadium every Fourth of July. The town’s July Fourth celebration was founded in 1970 by the Statler Brothers. If you’re looking for a small-town, big-time 4th of July celebration with music, food, fun, a parade, a Beauty Pageant, a Vesper service, a Country Music show, and some end-the-night-light-up-the-sky fireworks, then make your way out to Gypsy Hill Park for a wonderful family 3-day event. Just before going onstage at the 1991 "Happy Birthday, U.S.A." celebration in Gypsy Hill Park, the Statler Brothers paused for this photograph, which was taken behind the stage area at John Moxie Memorial Stadium. The Statlers hosted the event as a fundraiser for local charities for 25 years, ending the free 4th of July concert in 1994.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |