City Provides Uncle Sam Jam Parking, Access, Food Vendor Update

City Provides Uncle Sam Jam Parking, Access, Food Vendor Update

Published on July 03, 2024

The City of Lincoln today announced parking and access updates and a revised food vendor list for the City's free Uncle Sam Jam Independence Day Celebration Wednesday, July 3, at Oak Lake Park, North First and Charleston streets.

Due to wet conditions, the unpaved parking lot south of the park will be unavailable and guests will be directed to the Pinnacle Bank Arena festival space. The paved lot northwest of Oak Lake is also closed. Guests requiring ADA parking will be directed to spaces along Charleston Street.

From 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. North First Street will be closed to vehicles between Cornhusker Highway and Charleston Street. Guests will be allowed to view the fireworks show from the portion of North First Street north of Oak Creek. Beginning at 9:45 p.m. access to Sun Valley Boulevard from West "O" Street and Cornhusker Highway will be prohibited.

A portion of the island in southern Oak Lake will also be closed.

The revised food vendor list includes:

• The Funnel Cake Guy - funnel cakes, lemonade, water
• Grandpas Kettle Corn - kettle corn
• Kona Ice of Lincoln - Hawaiian shaved ice
• Hog Wild Pit BBQ - typical BBQ mains and sides
• Made it Myself Shaved Ice - shaved ice and a make your own flavor bar
• Valentinos - pizza and Pepsi products
• CHI Style Kitchen - Italian beef sandwiches, nachos, cheesesteaks, hotdogs, burgers, fried chicken, fries
• Marshall Dogs - bratwursts, hotdogs, churros, cookies, chips
• The Tastee Trailer - loose meat sandwiches, onion chips
• Frozen 4 U - nitro ice cream, Boba lemonade, fruit smoothies

The park opens at 6 p.m., live music starts at 7:15 p.m., the flag lowering ceremony is at 8:15 p.m., and the fireworks display will begin at 10 p.m.

The fireworks are sponsored by Pepsi-Cola and U-Stop and presented by J & M Displays of Yarmouth, Iowa. The show will be set to music provided by NRG Media/Broadcast House and aired on its four radio stations - B107.3 FM, Froggy 98.1 FM, 105.3 The Bone FM, and KLIN 1400 AM/99.3 FM. Raptor, the United States Air Force Heartland of America popular music ensemble, will perform from 7:15 to 9:30 p.m.

Uncle Sam Jam parking:

Residents are encouraged to arrive early to avoid traffic delays. Because repair work on the Sun Valley Boulevard bridge may cause additional delays, residents are urged to access the parking areas via North First and North 11th streets from Cornhusker Highway.

A parking map is available at lincoln.ne.gov/unclesamjam. Those areas include:

• Bowlin Stadium lot
• Haymarket Park lot
• Nebraska School Activities Association lot
• Pinnacle Bank Arena festival space south of the John Breslow Ice Hockey Center
• Haymarket Garage, North Ninth and "Q" streets
• Marketplace Garage, North 10th and "Q" streets

Free shuttle parking:

StarTran will provide free public shuttle bus service from 5 to 11 p.m. between the main entrance at Oak Lake Park and these locations:

• Haymarket Garage, North Ninth and "Q" streets
• Gold's bus stop, South 11th and "O" streets, across the street from the worksite
• County-City Building complex - northeast corner of Ninth and "H" streets and southeast corner of Ninth and "K" streets. Free parking is available in two lots - one bounded by Ninth, 10th, "G" and "H" streets and one bounded by Ninth, 10th, "K" and "L" streets.

Paratransit service is available for those eligible. Reservations can be made by calling StarTran at 402-441-7109.

Important event notes:

• Residents are encouraged to use the StarTran shuttle as a sustainable transportation option.
• Place recyclables and waste in designated containers.
• Fireworks are prohibited in all City parks at all times. Fireworks other than those used in the official City display are prohibited in the park during the celebration.
• Lincoln City parks are tobacco-free. City policy prohibits use of any form of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chew or dip, and vaping products in any park areas or facilities designated as tobacco-free.
• Alcohol is prohibited in the park.
• Personal watercraft are prohibited on the lake.

• All pets are required to wear a leash in the park. Attendees are discouraged from bringing pets to the park during the fireworks display.
• Register at lincoln.ne.gov/OakLakeCleanupto volunteer for the Oak Lake Cleanup event July 5 and receive a free lunch.

Admittance policies:

• All park guests and their coolers, clear bags and blankets are subject to inspection at the park entrance.
• Only coolers, clear bags (12"x12"x6" maximum size), blankets and lawn chairs will be allowed in Oak Lake Park. Personal items allowed in the park are limited to phones, keys and wallets.
• Minors (age 18 and younger) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Red Cross will have first aid available. Visit lincoln.ne.gov/unclesamjam for a parking map and more information.

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