4TH OF JULY EVENTS

Fireworks and where to find them

Local Fourth of July celebrations

The booming sparks flew in Purdy for the 2019 fireworks show.

Atraditional celebration hits the country on the Fourth of July, and most families and communities have a plan for their festivities.

July 4, 2020, falls on a Saturday, which ramped up the excitement for gatherings, but one unforeseen factor will remain a topic of consideration—COVID-19.

The country’s ability to adapt and adjust during the last few months has been inspiring, but most people are ready to get out and enjoy time with their communities in celebration. Thankfully, a fireworks show is an event that can bring people together while continuing to keep their distance.

Sitting in a field on a picnic blanket or in the bed of a truck is how most people watch firework shows, so keeping your immediate family social distanced from the rest of the patriotic party goers should be easy enough.

Now, where will the community firework shows be, and where will your family be?

Purdy

Julie Terry and her husband Ken have been in the firework tent business for 10 years, but for the last seven they have also put on a show.

The Smith family of Cassville, Jessica, Brian, Alec and Athena, make it an annual tradition to hunt for the sign that the Terry Family Fireworks hides each night for a chance to win some fireworks.

“We have three tents,” She said. “One in Purdy at the Gathering Place, one in Cassville at the Baywash Car Wash and a third at the junction of highways 60 and 37.

“It was my husband’s idea to start the show; it started off small, but it has gradually gotten bigger.”

According to Julie, there was an estimated 1,000 people in town for the 2019 show.

“We get donations from the community and our family matches those donations to help make this possible,” Julie said. “We have a $5 meal picnic that includes a jumbo hotdog, chips, baked beans, cookies and a drink.” The meal and the live music all begin at 6 p.m.

“We have Play Boyz to play music for us this year,” she said. “Everything starts at 6, so all you need is your own lawn chair.”

With the COVID-19 restrictions, social distancing will be practiced.

“The Barry County Health Department said they support the fireworks event as long as families stay six feet away from other families,” she said. “The picnic is at the Gathering Place and the fireworks will be shot off from the Purdy school playground.”

Additionally, the festivities in Purdy are scheduled for July 3 rather than July 4.

“We do that so that we don’t compete with other communities,” Julie said. “We want everyone to be able to enjoy the Fourth of July.

“Purdy is a small town, but this is a great way to bring people together as one, especially now.”

The fireworks show will begin at dark and usually lasts 30 minutes.

“It can be fun for everyone,” Julie said. “We see babies to people in their 90s here every year.

“Right now we feel that people are ready to celebrate and we are looking forward to seeing that happen amid the unfortunate circumstances that our country has been experiencing the last several months.” The event wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers in the community that help throughout the night. “The support and the donations extend outside of the Purdy city limits,” Julie said.

Terry Family Fireworks is one of the only family owned firework tents around, and the entire Terry family is involved.

“We really enjoy doing it,” she said. “Every season we have a sign that we hide in town and whoever finds it can come in and pick from a selection of fireworks. We hide that sign every night!”

Seligman

Plans for the city of Seligman’s annual firework show are set for the evening of July 4.

Brian Nichols, Seligman city clerk, said as it stands, everything is business as usual.

“The fireworks are scheduled to be set off at dusk and the Flyin Buzzards will be providing live music,” he said. “The splash park opened on June 1, so that will be available as well as the restrooms, unless anything changes.”

The park equipment and restrooms are being sanitized multiple times a day, and there are signs up for social distancing.

“We have always celebrated Independence Day by shooting off fireworks,” he said. “We believe we should keep on track with that.”

People can still social distance their immediate families from other families while sitting in the field at city hall enjoying the show.

“Last year, we spent $1,600 on the fireworks, this year we bumped it up to $1,800,” Brian said. “The show will start at about 9 p.m. whenever it gets dark and last about 30 minutes.”

Leta Stanley, Seligman Chamber of Commerce president, said the chamber is still planning on offering food for free to the community.

“We are planning on doing everything as normal as possible with the governor’s and health department’s go ahead,” she said. “Hotdogs, chips and a drink for free from the chamber.

“This celebration is important because to come together once in a while, but this year we will take more precautions.”

Shell Knob

In Shell Knob the Fourth of July festivities are unique and special to the area’s strengths.

At the Terry Family Firework Tents people can find something for every member of the family.

Twilia Harrison, Shell Knob Chamber director, said not only will the community come together for the traditional fireworks show, but this year will be the second annual Let Freedom Ring Boat Parade.

“We have $600 in prizes for the winners and almost all of the 16 boats from last year are coming back!”

The Fourth of July Fire and Thunder fireworks display is set for the evening of the fourth while the boat parade is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m.

“Our firework vendor is new to us this year, Riverside Fireworks,” Twilia said. “They promised us a minimum of 25 minutes of the show.”

Some of the fireworks will be going up to 600 feet in the air.

“We try to get them as high as possible for the view,” Twilia said. “The Shell Knob Fire and Thunder show is best seen and experienced from the water.”

Water patrol will be out as well, they ask that people make sure they are moving nice and steady when they go to leave after the show to avoid any issues.

“Additionally, they ask that all parts on the boats are working—especially the lights,” Twilia said. “It can be dangerous for a boat with no lights to be on the water at night.”

There is no cost for people to come watch the fireworks show or the boat parade.

“But the chamber is selling Fire and Thunder Fourth of July T-shirts for $15 to help fund the fireworks.

“You can get a shirt at the chamber office or a number of area businesses,” Twilia said.

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The Monett Chamber of Commerce has announced a full line-up of activities and events for the July 4 celebration at Monett’s South Park.

Activities kick off at 1 p.m. with children’s games and vendors opening for business. Those include the mechanical spider, a rock climbing wall, the extreme trampoline, the gyroscope, Ferris Wheel, tubs o’ fun, spinning swings, car rides, laser tag and inflatables.

Ride bracelets are available at a cost of $10 before July 1, and $15 after. Employees of major sponsors will pay only $8 cash in advance. The ride bracelets are good for unlimited activities. Ride bracelets may be purchased at the Monett Chamber of Commerce.

At 3 p.m., Dylan Brock, of Crane, solo Christian guitarist, singer and comedian, will kick off the afternoon’s entertainment, followed by locally renowned Flyin Buzzards, a bluegrass band, at 4:30 p.m. Wilkie Jay and The Heat, from Joplin, will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. to perform some of the area’s rock favorites, with some country and Americana mixed in. The Mark Chapman Band will perform at 8 p.m., and all rides will close at 9 p.m.

The National Anthem will play at 9:30 p.m., with the fireworks show immediately following.

“We have hired Hale Fireworks this year, and the show won’t be as commercial as those in years past, but it won’t be a small show,” said Jeff Meredith, Monett Chamber executive director. “The park will offer the best viewing, and we plan to push the fire line closer this year.

“There will be lots of food vendors and plenty of things to do. We hope people buy their ride bracelets early and join us at the park for a great event.” n