Fireworks aren't the only way to celebrate the Fourth of July. How about ringing some really big bells.
Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock crowds gathered outside around the UNO Campanile (bell tower) near 64th and Dodge to hear a special Fourth of July Carillon concert. Dr. James Johnson, UNO professor of music, played the carillon, which is the name for the actual bell instrument.
The concert featured 40 minutes of patriotic favorites.
Geri Smith drove in from Elkhorn to hear the bells.
"Beautiful weather. The setting is lovely," Smith said. "The music is nice. You don't hear bells very often, so it's very unusual. And it's just very pleasant."
Forty-seven bronze bells weighing more than 24 thousand pounds make up the carillon.
The July Fourth concert has been a tradition at UNO since the 168-foot tower and carillon were built in 1989.
