If Mother Nature doesn’t once again step in and change the program, the Chamber of Commerce annual fireworks celebration will be held on Labor Day weekend at Mountain View Park.

A full day and evening of events, culminating with the fireworks show at 9 p.m., is slated for Saturday, Aug ust 31. Not only will it afford visitors some extra activities for the final summer weekend of the season, whatever proceeds raised from the entire day will support a good cause, that being earmarked to help buy much needed new playground equipment for the park itself.

For the second year in a row, the 4th of July display, usually held at the fairgrounds, had to be postponed due to weather–last year due to dry conditions and this year to wet conditions.

In 2012, the fireworks show was rescheduled during the Foothills Festival but this year the chamber apparently opted to host the event during the Labor Day weekend.

The primary idea to hold the show at the park came about in late July when both chamber and park board member Jay Garner suggested using the park for the events, since the park board had already been planning on a car show for the month of September to help raise money for the playground equipment.

Since the ball fields on middle school property will have to be used as the staging point to actually set off the fireworks directly behind the back side of the park, both organizations had to get clearance from the school district for use of the middle school property.

The rec/park board held a special meeting last Tuesday, August 13 to make some final preparations for the all-day event and also scheduled a rain out day for Labor Day, Monday, September 2 in case of inclement weather on August 31.

The day’s events will begin with a car show at the park starting at 10 a.m. with categories for all type vehicles including cars, trucks and motorcycles. Trophies in five different categories will be awarded around 1 p.m. in the afternoon.

After the car show concludes at 4 p.m., there will be gospel singing from 5 to 8 p.m.

As of last week, plans were being put together to have the Clinton County High School Band and JROTC to perform at 8:30 p.m. that evening, leading up to the flag raising and start of the fireworks show at 9 p.m.

Board members discussed which areas had to be roped off to the public during the fireworks show, parking for the public and taking donations, as well as selling glow sticks to parents with children as a way to help raise some money for the playground.

Also, any gospel singer or group who would like to volunteer to perform that evening should contact Garner or any park board or chamber member as soon as possible.

Although there is limited bleacher seating at the park, the public is asked to bring lawn chairs for the fireworks show that night.

A few more finalized details will be published next week.