La Crosse Center to host “Cheers and Beers” fireworks viewing on July 4th

Get ready for “Cheers and Beers” — a new event for 4th of July in La Crosse.

The La Crosse Center will open its newly-added ballroom and terrace area on the night of the 4th, for partying and watching the fireworks along the Mississippi River.

Center director Art Fahey said music, food and drinks will be offered in the new section.

Fahey noted that the “prefunction area” is glass-enclosed and faces Riverside Park.

Cheers and Beers is being presented in addition to the traditional Riverfest activities on the 4th along the riverfront.

As for tradition of spreading out blankets and tarps at Riverfest for the fireworks?

“There’s some romance to that as well,” Fahey said, “being in the park and being able to be right there and watch it, and the ‘Oohs and ahhs,’ of all the crowd, ’cause that’s a pretty cool area down there, too, as well.”

The new ballroom section of the Center, elevated above Front Street, was opened last December as part of the $42 million expansion.