The second of the summer’s “Big Three” holidays arrives this weekend and this year it could be one of the biggest Clinton County has seen in recent years.

The July 4 holiday traffic will hopefully be heavy with both local and tourist traffic, helped along those lines with lower gas prices .

One event that will take place this weekend and is expected to be heavily attended will be the fifth annual Fireworks Show held at the Clinton County Fairgrounds.

This year’s show is expected to be bigger and better than the previous four years with local musicians Backroom Band to perform at 7 p.m. and continue playing until the fireworks begin around 9 p.m. local time.

As always, the event is free of charge to anyone who wants to view the fireworks and listen to the band at the fairgrounds. Concessions will also be available for purchase.

Albany/Clinton County Chamber of Commerce President Mike Davis said the main goal is to provide something the whole community can enjoy.

“We have a great band and they are going to play from 7 to 9 p.m.,” Davis said. “Funding this year, with times being hard on everybody, we’ve had local business step up and meet the needs so that we can still provide a good quality fireworks show for the people in Albany and Clinton County. It’s going to be a big show.”

As in the past, people from all around come into Albany on the Fourth of July to view the fireworks show. The show can be visible from town, but it is recommended to come to the fairgrounds to get the best view available.

“The fireworks are going to be visible from all over town, but we want everybody to come out to the fairgrounds to listen to the band and get something to eat,” Davis said. “The local fire department is going to be taking up donations and that’s a freewill donation, so if anybody feels like they do a good job then it would be nice if we could give them a little something.”

Davis said the Albany Fire Department has been on standby every year the fireworks show has been held.

“They have always been there in case something goes wrong and as everybody knows they are always on standby, so if someone feels like a donation is warranted then that would be nice for them,” Davis said.

In order for the fireworks show to be provided free for everybody, the Chamber of Commerce relies on donations from government organizations and local businesses.

“The mayor and city council have been more than generous as well as the Industrial Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce, Barrett Oil, Monticello Bank, First and Farmers National Bank, Equity Group – Kentucky Division, Daymar College, Albany Building Center, Quick Mart Shell, and South Kentucky RECC … we just want to thank them again because without their donations there would not be a fireworks show,” Davis said.

With Albany and Clinton County being considered a “small-town,” bringing the community together is something the chamber of commerce looks forward to every year.

“Other than the Foothills Festival, it’s one of the times when the whole community gets something for nothing,” Davis said. “They can go and enjoy their selves for an evening and it’s just a way the chamber and the community can give back to the general public.”

Not only does the chamber want to impress the local community, it also wants tourists visiting the area, to have a good time and celebrate Independence Day together with the local crowd.

“For us to put on a good show for these folks, to me, it speaks volumes for the community,” Davis said. “Maybe it will make come back and live here someday.”

The chamber of commerce is dedicated to the development of business in the community and is also responsible for promoting Clinton County to attract tourist and potential factories in order to boost the economy.

“Listening to our members is the main thing and helping the business community in Albany prosper,” Davis said. “Tourism is a big part of that and any way we can put on a good show for our local community and folks who come in here to vacation and recreate down on the lakes, is a win.”

Along with listening to a local band, those who come to the fairgrounds will also be able to purchase food from the concessions booth. Davis told the NEWS that he doesn’t have any bid as of Monday morning, (June 27), but he has been contacted by several groups who are interested in placing a bid to offer concessions.

For those interested in making a bid on concessions at the fairgrounds during the event, contact Mike Davis by email to: mike@davismarineinsurance.com or drop off a bid at Davis & Associates insurance office on Hwy. 127.

In the year’s past, former chamber of commerce presidents have had it in mind to expand the fireworks event. Davis said it is a goal of the chamber to add to the schedule and hopefully make it an “all-day event.”

“If anybody has any ideas on how to expand the event, we will listen,” Davis said. “We would love to make it an all-day event. That’s the goal.”

This year’s fireworks show will take place on Monday, July 4, 2011, and should provide a wonderful ending to the holiday weekend. Davis doesn’t think having the show on a Monday will adversely effect the attendance at all.

“I don’t see it as being a problem,” Davis said. “I think we will see a good crowd and as always, I think it will depend on the weather. To me, the main thing is those businesses which stepped up this year. We lost some of our funding and some businesses came through when they haven’t given anything in the past. To me that’s what small-town chamber of commerce is all about. We help each other out. I just hope everybody enjoys it … It’s going to be a good night.”

Davis said the gates at the fairgrounds will open around 6 p.m.

“Come out to the fairgrounds and get a good seat for the band … don’t eat, wait until you get to the fairgrounds because whoever does cater it is going to be a local business or organization, so we need to try and give back to them as well,” Davis said.