Recording artist Tift Merritt will come home to the Triangle to sing the National Anthem at the Bulls 4th of July game.

Have you heard what’s happening this Fourth of July with the Durham Bulls? We’ll begin with a twang and end with a bang!

Country music star Tift Merritt is coming to the ballpark to perform the National Anthem prior to the Bulls 5:00pm game against the Syracuse Sky Chiefs. Merritt, who began her career playing small clubs in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, North Carolina, appeared on Austin City Limits, the live music program on PBS on January 21, 2006. The show featured five songs recorded live in Austin, Texas on October 20, 2005. She has released four albums to date including a live album called Home is Loud which was recorded June 4th, 2005 in North Carolina.

Also making an appearance from his pineapple under the sea is SpongeBob SquarePants, the loveable character from the hit Nickelodeon show. SpongeBob is at the DBAP beginning June 30th through July 4th thanks to Time Warner Cable. It will be a great opportunity to let the kids meet one of their favorite characters live at the ballpark.

The Bulls will wear commemorative Independence Day jerseys for the game that will be auctioned on the lower concourse from 6:00pm through the middle of the 7th inning. Players will autograph their jerseys which will be available for pickup after the game. All proceeds benefit Light Up Durham, the organization responsible for promoting the 4th of July post-game festivities.

And speaking of the post-game festivities, fans can get ready for what will be the biggest fireworks show of the season as the City of Durham, Light Up Durham and the Bulls cap off the best Independence Day Celebration in the Triangle.

Tickets to the 4th of July game are available now by clicking here.

Thanks to DBBC’s Matt DeMargel for this capcom story & photo.