City plans Stars and Stripes Fireworks Show

Apr. 28—It is nonetheless slightly greater than a few months away, however the metropolis of McAlester is near an settlement for the July 4 Stars and Stripes Fireworks Present on the Expo.

“We needed to transfer ahead with our plans as scheduled,” Metropolis of McAlester Tourism Director Billy Sumner stated Wednesday.

Metropolis councilors unanimously agreed Tuesday evening to authorize McAlester Mayor John Browne to signal an settlement with Rainbow Fireworks for the Independence Day show, set for July 4, on the Southeast Expo Heart and the Pittsburg County Fairgrounds. This yr the Fourth of July is on a Monday, which makes for an extended vacation weekend.

Usually, the town of McAlester splits the price of the July 4 occasion.

“Your complete present is $20,000,” Sumner stated. Earlier agreements have known as for the town to place up $10,000, stated Sumner, with the opposite $10,000 coming from a co-sponsor.

Sumner stated exhibits have normally been a 50/50 partnership between the town of McAlester and the First Nationwide Financial institution and Belief for quite a few years now, and he is hopeful the partnership continues. The financial institution’s participation have to be accepted by administration on an annual foundation and was pending as of Wednesday.

“We significantly recognize the assist they offer us yearly,” Sumner stated. “They have been nice so a few years prior to now.”

That is the primary time the town of McAlester will maintain the Fourth of July Fireworks Present on the Expo Heart grounds and the adjoining fairgrounds since Pittsburg County commissioners took over Expo operations from the town.

Sumner stated all the pieces goes easily for the town to proceed internet hosting the occasion. County commissioners should not charging the town to be used of the Expo Heart grounds through the July 4 celebration, which makes it simpler to proceed holding the fireworks show with out charging admission.

“I needed to proceed letting folks come onto the grounds free of charge,” stated Sumner.

Pittsburg County Fee Chairman/District 2 Commissioner Kevin Smith concurred.

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“Pittsburg County is in settlement and in favor of holding the annual July 4 fireworks show at no cost to the town of McAlester,” Smith stated in a response to Sumner’s request.

Southeast Expo Heart Supervisor Krystal Bess might be organizing occasions to run concurrently and the Pittsburg County Fairgrounds might be open to the general public at no change for admission, stated Smith.

The Fourth of July Stars and Stripes Fireworks Present on the Expo Heart is likely one of the hottest occasions within the McAlester space.

“It is one thing the neighborhood very a lot seems ahead to,” Sumner stated.

Steps to advertise the fireworks show embrace massive out of doors banners that may be positioned to span streets at a number of areas within the metropolis.

Some folks arrive on the Expo Heart grounds within the afternoon, lengthy earlier than the fireworks show historically begins shortly after sundown. A current addition to the occasion is the inclusion of a number of meals vehicles eventually yr’s present, which have been utilized by attendees each earlier than and through the present.

Sumner plans to coordinate with the county to see if there are plans to ask any meals truck distributors. If not, he stated he’ll probably invite some meals vehicles himself, since they have been a well-liked addition to final yr’s occasion.

In 2020, through the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Metropolis Supervisor Pete Stasiak initially stated the occasion couldn’t be held that yr, on account of an absence of metropolis funds. Nevertheless, the First Nationwide Financial institution got here by way of with its $10,000 donation and different sponsors got here up with the remaining, enabling the Stars and Stripes Fireworks Present to proceed as a McAlester-area custom.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.