Expect Thunder on Saturday

There's no need to wait until the dog days of summer to enjoy a patriotic party - complete with fireworks - downtown. Now in its third year, the Thunder Over Augusta festival, commemorating Armed Forces Day, returns to Augusta's riverfront.

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This year's event takes place at  Augusta Common on Eighth Street, The Augusta Chronicle parking lot on Reynolds Street, and the dirt lot behind the old railroad depot on Reynolds Street. The fireworks will be launched from the Fifth Street bridge.

Events  this year will include a concert by rising Nashville singer  Jamie Buckley,  local acts Sassy Brass, Eryn Eubanks and the Family Fold, and the U.S. Army Signal Corps Band at the Common and a motocross stunt show behind the depot. After  the music, the U.S.  Special Operations Command Parachute Team will, quite literally, drop in behind the depot. The fireworks will wrap up the evening.

Thunder Over Augusta also includes a slew of military demonstrations and displays, vendors and screenings of the documentary Warrior Champions  at Fort Discovery.

Here's a sampling of the entertainment:
Jamie Buckley: A consummate multitasker, Buckley serves as both an active-duty Army recruiter  and a touring musician. He is promoting his new album,  Soldier, Singer, Songwriter.

U.S. Special Operations Command Para­chute Team: Made of members from all four branches of the military service, the team is best-known for its high- altitude jumps - 12,500- foot drops, which include about two miles of free fall.

Team FMX East: The Team FMX East motocross stunt show is a self-contained motorcycle spectacular. The team travels with not only bikes and riders  but also its own specifically designed ramp systems.

Zambelli Fireworks: This family-owned fireworks company is one of the oldest in the United States. It was founded in 1893 by Italian fireworks designer Antonio Zambelli.