Krista Schultz and Angela
Inge
The Chronicle-Telegram
ELYRIA — An estimated 30,000 people packed Cascade
Park for the eighth annual Independence Day celebration
on Thursday and were wowed by what many called a
spectacular fireworks extravaganza.
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BRUCE
BISHOP/CHRONICLE |
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COLORFUL
DISPLAY: Fireworks light up the night sky over
Elyria’s Cascade Park on
Thursday. |
“It was really beautiful,” said John Brown of Elyria.
“It was even better than last year and a little
longer.”
The 25-minute fireworks display ended on a drum roll
and a finale that built over 10 minutes, filling the sky
with a spectrum of color coupled with thundering booms
that had watchers on their feet cheering.
Angela Nieves-Bowens of Elyria, who had her two sons
in tow, was awestruck.
“I think it’s really wonderful this year,” she
said.
Her son, Donte Bowen, 3, agreed.
“It’s nice and sparkly,” he said.
Patriotic music blared from an audio system set up at
the bottom of the sledding hill for those near the
center of the show. But the park was filled to capacity
and the sound system was drowned out for most in the
crowd by the thundering claps of fireworks exploding
overhead.
Many people who wanted to avoid the crowds inside the
park lined up along Lake and Washington avenues and
other streets in the area, and others set up lawn chairs
atop the county parking garage at Third Street and
Middle Avenue.
For the Elyria Parks and Recreation Department, the
celebration is not a one-day event. Planning has been
going on since February and the July 4th Committee met
monthly with the Elyria police and fire departments to
fine-tune details.
“This is a wonderful culmination of many departments
working toward a great event,” said Parks Director Frank
Gustoff.
Busses began shuttling people to Cascade Park from
Elyria High School at 4 p.m. and continued through the
evening.
“Elyria has amazing fireworks, and it brings us back
every year,” said Cathy Given of Elyria.
The hill leading into the park was covered with
blankets. Children waved sparklers and families wore
clothing emblazoned with stars and stripes. Concession
stand employees kept busy serving ice cream, hot dogs
and cotton candy to guests before the family fun events
began.
Families competed in a sack race, water balloon toss
and a three-legged race. The park historian led a nature
walk on the new bike trail that circles the park.
Denise Toby and her husband, Ron, grew up in Elyria
and have attended the fireworks display since they were
children. They now bring their family to the
celebration.“It is great to have such a family-oriented
atmosphere,” said
Toby.
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