Several fireworks shows set for this area

Danville City Commission and Boyle County Fiscal Court will sponsor a fireworks display Tuesday at the fairgrounds on the bypass.

The fireworks will be launched by area firefighters, rescue squad members and other emergency services personnel, starting about 9:45 p.m., weather permitting.

Danville Fire Department will set up its ladder truck and fly the American flag prior to the fireworks at the Millennium Park parking lot, adjacent to the soccer fields. A sound system with pre-recorded patriotic music will be played from the Millennium Park location.

For safety purposes, access to the fairgrounds will be limited to the parking areas immediately off the Danville bypass; the playground area will be marked off limits starting at 8:30 p.m.

Millennium Park's entrance is less than a quarter mile from the intersection of U.S. 127 and Perryville Road. It is between Boyle County High School and the viaduct.

CASEY COUNTY

"Thunder over Liberty" will feature a larger show of fireworks than last year, coordinator Brad Vaughn said. "It will be one of the biggest shows in Casey and surrounding counties."

The show will begin promptly at 10 p.m. Tuesday at Central Kentucky Ag/Expo Center and will last 24 minutes. It will be near Green River on the right side of the ag center and can be seen from downtown and along the high ridges surrounding the center.

"We're hoping to attract people from all over to see the fireworks. We want people to come and enjoy the show. We want to show off the Central Kentucky Ag/Expo Center, too," said Vaughn.

Vaughn collected $3,000 in donations from businesses, financial institutions and individuals, and the city and county kicked in the remaining $7,000 to pay for the show by Melrose Pyrotechnics in Springfield.

The evening will begin at 8:30 with a gospel concert by The Crossroads Quartet which features state Sen. Vernie McGaha, R-Russell Springs.

Vaughn encourages people to come early. Last year, traffic was backed up to the northern edge of the city limits, he said.

There is plenty of parking space at the Ag/Expo Center, and local volunteer fire departments will help with parking. Firefighters will accept donations to help with programs. "This is a community event so people won't have to drive out of town to see fireworks," he said.

The Independence Day celebration actually begins with a parade at 5:30 p.m. that will assemble at Liberty Elementary School, travel down Middleburg Street and north on Ky. 49 to the Veterans Park.

A ceremony to honor veterans who made the supreme sacrifice for this county is scheduled at 6 p.m. at the park.

A community choir directed by Sandy Wolford will conclude the program.

Veterans Park features a wall with 1,391 names of Casey County men and women who have served in the military. People can still purchase granite stones that list names, branch and years served in the military.

Check with City Hall at (606) 787-9973 for information.

The names won't be added in time for the celebration, said Mayor Steve Sweeney. He will announce where the new section of the wall will be located at the July 4 event.

Twenty flags have been added to the wall.

Wolf Brothers Band of Louisville and Casey County Dancers will entertain at the Village Green gazebo bandstand behind City Hall. Free concessions of hot dogs, drinks, cotton candy and snow cones will be available.

MERCER COUNTY

In Mercer County, the annual concert and fireworks will be Saturday at Anderson-Dean Community Park. The music will be performed at the aquatic center before the fireworks are launched at dusk, or between 9-9:30 p.m.

Park Director Mark Bryant said a baseball tournament involving 25 teams, some from out of town, also will be going on at the park this weekend.

One of the reasons fireworks will be displayed Saturday rather than July 4 is the cost of the display is less on days surrounding Independence Day compared to the holiday itself.

Harrodsburg Police Chief Ernie Kelty said the law prohibiting parking along the roadside will be strictly enforced. Bryant said a gate in the back of the park will be opened for people leaving the park Saturday night.

The gate, which opens onto Warwick Road, will not be open to people entering the park. For the 11th year in a row, donations of canned food and cash will be collected by the Care Team at James B. Haggin Memorial Hospital and donated to the Christian Life Center.

In July and August, 200 families will benefit from the food and cash collection. It will be enough for 5,000-6,000 meals.