A booming July 4th, ‘Largest Small Town Fireworks Display in America’

 

ALACHUA ‒ From a spectacular fireworks show to food, live music and fun for the entire family, Alachua had it covered. It was a star-spangled extravaganza Tuesday as live music, food trucks, and kids’ activities set the stage for the dazzling fireworks show that wrapped up the day’s events.  For the 23rd year, the largest small town fireworks show in America lit up the skies on July 4th at Legacy Park to a crowd of thousands.

Gates opened at 5 p.m. for families to enjoy an afternoon in the park, including a kid’s corner with numerous free activities for children and a variety of food trucks and beverages. 

Over the course of the evening the crowd filtered in, filling the field by showtime. The 10-piece band, Uncle Morty's Rhythm Cream, provided music featuring a variety of popular songs from R&B and Funk and Rock. 

Despite some concerns for the dark clouds that drifted in near showtime, the rain was kept at bay, just nature adding its own fireworks with occasional lightning and thunder in the distance. 

The band gave way to sCaitlyn Phillips singing the National Anthem as the crowd stood and held up cell phones, creating a cell phone light show filling the dark field with thousands of pinpoints of light. 

Event emcee Ben Boukari, Jr., and Alachua City Manager Mike DaRoza spoke briefly, thanking the many event volunteers and sponsors and introducing the fireworks show.

Boukari also spoke about how the show has become so popular and well known that people come from far-flung locales to see it and asked the crowd where they were coming from. In addition to people from the Alachua County area and surrounding counties, people came from neighboring states to enjoy the patriotic festivities.

City Manager Mike DaRoza also welcomed festivalgoers saying, “I will tell you this, as the City Manager, I am very privileged to get to do things like this, but without our Commission, they are the ones that have the vision, and they are the ones that give us the approval to put on one crazy show, and that’s what we are about to do.

“But before I introduce the man [Mayor Gib Coerper], I just want to say ‘thank you’ to the commission, I want to say ‘thank you’ to the Fourth of July Celebration Committee.  We have about 20-25 people strong that are all here volunteering, being part of our staff, making sure that not only is this a crazy show, but that it’s safe and family friendly.”

Promptly at 9:30 p.m., the sky lit up as the fireworks began, building to a climax at 10 p.m. that did not disappoint.

#     #     #

email editor@

alachuatoday.com