Base celebrates Air Force birthday with Charlie Daniels Band show

Published Sept. 9, 2008
By 81st Services Division

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- Keesler celebrates the Air Force's 61st birthday with the Charlie Daniels Band, 7 p.m., Sept. 18 on the parade field.

A live preshow broadcast by K99.1 Radio's Big D and Bubba is at 6 p.m.

The event is free to all Department of Defense identification card holders.

Concert-goers should bring blankets or lawn chairs. No coolers or large bags are allowed. Everyone attending the event is subject to inspection by the 81st Security Forces Squadron.

Food and beverages are available for purchase.

Department of Defense identification card holders may park in any base parking lot.

Off-base ticket holders are provided access to Keesler and the concert only by shuttle service from the parking site on Bayview Drive. To reach the parking area, take I-10 to I-110 south, and take the Bayview exit west to the parking site. An alternate route is Highway 90 to Porter Avenue or Caillavet Street, north to Bayview Drive and turn left to the parking area.

Passengers are picked up at the Oak Park Gate beginning at 4:45 p.m. and dropped off at the Azalea Dining Facility in the Triangle area.

To ease traffic, Coast Transit Authority has added extra routes from Edgewater Mall to Keesler's Vandenberg Community Center, and back, on the day of the concert. Buses will leave the mall every 20 minutes from 4:30-6:30 p.m., and return at 20 minute intervals between 8:30 and 10 p.m. Customers are charged the regular fee of $2 for round-trip transportation.

The concert, co-hosted by 81st Force Support Squadron Services and the USO, is sponsored by Allen Beverages, BancorpSouth, Bay Ice Co., Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino, Chuck Stephens Automotive, Clear Channel Radio K99.1, GEICO, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Harris Jewelry, Hollywood Casino, IP Casino, Resort and Spa, Keesler Federal Credit Union, Mandal Pontiac Buick GMC, Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Mississippi Sea Wolves, Planet Beach, Red Bull, Rex Distributing, Select One, USAA, Verizon and Yates Construction.