Annual July 4 celebration should be biggest, best production yet

Independence Day is coming up this Friday and local residents don’t have to leave Albany and Clinton County to enjoy not only an always great fireworks display, but also have a central location to take part in events all afternoon and evening long.

For the eighth year, the Albany/Clinton County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Fourth of July Celebration complete with one of the best fireworks displayed in the area.

Eight year’s ago, when the idea to have a celebration with an extravagant display of fireworks came about, the idea for the event was somewhat small. Now, it has grown in the direction the chamber of commerce has wanted it to.

This year, for the second consecutive year, the event will be held once again at the Mountain View Park and along with the fireworks, there will be several events throughout the day in order to get the entire family involved.

Chamber of Commerce President Willard Johnson said he thinks this year will be bigger and better than any of the previous year’s the chamber has been involved.

“The first year we had the gospel singing and that was pretty much it,” Johnson said. “We are trying to spice it up a little bit and make it last a little bit longer to keep people in town longer. Hopefully it will bring some people in off the lake and into town to see what we have to offer.”

Events will get underway around 3 p.m. and continue right up until the fireworks display at 9 p.m. Of course, there is no admission, there will be live entertainment and concessions available throughout the afternoon and evening.

“The whole program will last six and a half hours,” Johnson said. “It rained a little last year, but I think it helped out a bit … it kept the fire down. We are hoping it might rain a little before that day so we can have it.”

During the eight year’s the chamber has been putting on the fireworks display, only one year was postponed due to dry conditions.

“A lot of times, with the lack of rain, there is a possibility we won’t have it,” Johnson said.

In case of potential downfall of rain, the event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 5.

This year’s event will start at 3 p.m. with a car show, inflatables for the kids, including the large water slide sponsored by Lay-Simpson Furniture of Albany. For a one-time price of $5 for an armband, kids will have unlimited use of the inflatables throughout the afternoon and evening. The added events this year also include a a BBQ cook-off.

The barbecue cook-off will feature two categories, one for the pros and one for the back-yard cookers. Entry fee is $10 for the back-yard BBQers, and $50 for the professionals, with the winner in each category receiving a 50 percent of total entry fee payback.

Johnson said the new events, combined with several different categories for the car show will bring in a large crowd for the Friday afternoon show.

“People won’t have to work the next day, so they will stay out later,” Johnson said.

The schedule of events will include the second annual car show from 3-6 p.m.; inflatables for children from 3-9 p.m.; the BBQ cook-off from 3-5 p.m.; live gospel music from 6-8:30 p.m. and performing at 8:30 p.m., leading up to the fireworks, will be performances by the Clinton County High School Band and ROTC, as well as the newly formed Clinton County Alumni Band.

“I’m excited to hear the Alumni Band. I think it’s something great that Randy Speck and Lamon Hubbs has started and I think it’s going to be pretty awesome.”

Johnson noted the importance of bringing in events for the children as well as utilizing youth groups like the high school band and the JROTC unit from the Clinton County High School.

“With anything you do, if you do it long enough you are going to grow out of it. These young kids grow into it,” Johnson said. “It’s a lasting legacy and we want to pass down to them where they can keep it up and running in the future. If you don’t get the youth involved then eventually it’s going to go away. We don’t want that to happen. If gives them something to do because it’s an outdoor activity and it gives some people the chance to come to the park who don’t get to use it. The park is a big asset for the county, not only for our youth, but for some of our older citizens. They use it for health reasons and the Healthy Hometown Coalition has been promoting our park here recently and it’s a good thing.”

The car show entry fee is $10 and trophies will be awarded at 5 p.m. with the first 50 vehicles receiving a dash plate. Awards be given in the following categories: Best of Show–car, truck, motorcycle and tractor; Best Chevy; Best Ford; Best Mopar; Longest Distance; Best Paint; Best Engine; Best Wheels; Best Hi-Performance; Best Interior; Oldest Vehicle; Most Original; Most Unique; and, Sponsor’s Choice.

There will also be plenty of parking available, both at the park and at the Clinton County Middle School.

“It’s going to be a big help to us and I want to thank the school board and Superintendent Charlotte Bernard for allowing us to use it,” Johnson said. ”

“I want to remind the public that the chamber members, the public businesses, are the people who have made this possible to put this event on,” Johnson said. “We do get some donations from other sources, but most of it comes from the area businesses. By being a chamber member, they are helping us put this on.”

The Chamber of Commerce Fireworks display will be free to those who show up at the park, however, the park will be accepting donations in order to purchase new playground equipment.

“The playground equipment is very expensive because of the safety aspects. We are just trying to gather up and raise some money to buy better equipment for the children that’s going to be a lasting thing for them,” Johnson said. “We might be able to see two generations use it. We are 100 percent non-profit and all the proceeds we bring in goes right back out into the community.”

This year, Johnson said there could possibly be 5,000 people show up to view the fireworks.

“Last year I think we had somewhere around 1,500 people. I think some left early because it rained earlier in the day,” Johnson said. “What we plan on doing with having these other events throughout the day is we are hoping to get people to the park and keep them there.”

The Park Board will also have it’s concession stand open throughout the day and will be serving food and drinks to those who venture to the park.

All proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase of new playground equipment for the park.

This year’s main event, the fireworks, will be put on by the same company the chamber has used in the past and if anybody has seen the show before, it’s something to view.

“We chose them because they have all the licenses and the special permits and they do a good job and they are safe with it,” Johnson said.

The annual fireworks display and celebration is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, Albany City Council-Mayor Nicky Smith, Barrett Oil, Monticello Banking Company, First & Farmers National Bank, Keystone Foods, LLC, Clinton County Industrial Authority, Albany Building Center, Mountain View Recreational Park Board and Albany Fire Department.

For more information about the car show, contact Jay Craig at 606-688-1596; for the BBQ cook-off, Bobby Reneau at 606-688-4337, or for any event in general, Jay Garner at 606-688-0469.

Everyone is invited to come out and celebrate America’s independence on Friday night, July 4 at Mountain View Park.