Dunn's favorite Fourth of July dish is ribs, and according to him, the secret really is in the sauce. He attributes his mom's secret sauce for ribs that stand above any other recipe he has tasted.
"I've had a lot of ribs. I've eaten ribs from several different places. My mom's are just the best," Dunn said.
But others won't have the luxury of mom's good old-fashioned home cooking.
Darcy Wheaton, a senior at Centre College, would usually spend the Fourth of July with her family at a get-together in the country, but because she's two hours away from home, she's decided to catch up on some much needed rest.
"I'll probably sleep in," Wheaton said. "Last week I worked four nights in a row, and this week I'm off until Friday."
Fireworks on tap
Whether it is the food, or just feeling thankful that the holiday gives you the time to take care of other things, fireworks are certainly not going to be outshined. Many people in Danville say they plan to either attend or have their own fireworks show.
Boyle County Fire Chief Mike Thomas explained why dry conditions have local fire departments concerned.
"Having a lot of open fires or use of fireworks around dried brush, dried leaves, grass, or fields can be a pretty severe pain for our local fire departments," Thomas said.
"Matter of fact, the Boyle County fire department just responded to a grass fire not 10 minutes ago," he said. "We are cautioning people to use extra precautions when it comes to using consumer-type fireworks."
Thomas urges caution for another reason, too.
"Usually about every other year we'll have someone who is injured by a firework that goes off unexpectedly or by a firework they felt was a dud firework that they got too close to and had it go off."
Thomas said wire sprinklers are the No. 1 cause of firework injuries because the temperature of the wire can reach 800 to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Putting on the show
Despite the dangers, residents are still willing to invest in living the occasion up to the fullest.
Tom and Pam Lane are local volunteers who help operate a fireworks stand in the Wal-Mart SuperCenter parking lot. Proceeds from sales will help Cornerstone Assembly of God send its youth on a fine arts trip in Indianapolis.
The Lanes have been volunteers at the stand for 14 years and expect just as much business this year as in the past.
"Business picks up everyday quite a bit more," Tom Lane said. "On the Fourth, it'll actually be totally insane. It will be hard to keep up."
After more than 200 years of commemoration, the Fourth of July is still synonymous with good food, spectacular fireworks, and the joy of family, and it appears that the people of Danville aren't allowing this year to be an exception.
Fireworks displays
* Dusk today, Anderson-Dean Community Park in Harrodsburg
* 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Lincoln County Fairgrounds
* 10 p.m. Wednesday, Central Kentucky Ag/Expo Center in Casey County
* Dusk Wednesday, Lancaster-Garrard County Recreation Park south of Lancaster
Natalie Wilson is a summer intern at The Advocate.
