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Friday, June 24, 2005 Fireworks to fill sky for two weekendsBy MELANIE STAWICKI AZAM and LYNN BULMAHN | News-Journal Staff Writers NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Southeast Volusia residents will get a double dose of fireworks and fun — with New Smyrna Beach presenting its Music in the Park celebration Saturday and Edgewater sponsoring its July Fourth event on the evening of the holiday. “We give residents two fireworks weekends,” said City Manager Frank Roberts. New Smyrna Beach typically has its fireworks early, so it doesn’t compete with Edgewater’s Fourth of July activities, he said. Besides, he said they have better luck finding available bands on the earlier date. The second annual Music in the Park will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Riverside Park on Riverside Drive. It will feature live music on two stages, food vendors and activities for children. The evening will conclude with a fireworks display, which will begin at about 9. Bands will include the 13th Army Band, “Pride” Navy Band, Daniel Joiner Trio, the University of North Florida Jazz Ensemble I, Spruce Creek High School’s High Steppin’ Hawks and New Smyrna Beach Middle School Stingrays. Roberts said the free event has more sponsors this year. “That helped us beef the event up,” he said. The fireworks fest costs about $50,000 to put on, Roberts said. This year, the city and Utilities Commission both kicked in about $15,000 each, Brighthouse gave another $7,500 and Bill Roe of Ocean Properties donated $5,000. The rest came from various other local donors, he said. For four years, New Smyrna Beach has celebrated Independence Day a bit early. But this is only the second year for the city’s Music in the Park. Previously, there was a parade. Meanwhile, Edgewater is gearing up for its fireworks display on the evening of July Fourth. The fireworks will begin at about 9:15 p.m., according to Fire Chief Tracey Barlow. Last year, Edgewater’s fireworks lit the sky two days early, but Edgewater Fire-Rescue Association, which is in charge of the annual festivities, re-instated the traditional July 4 schedule. Another change, Barlow said, involves the fireworks launch site, since the island formerly used to launch the fireworks can’t be used anymore. “Because of the hurricanes and erosion on the island, the fireworks will have to be launched from Kennedy Park,” he said. Therefore, parking and boat launchings will not be permitted around Kennedy Park due to safety concerns. Starting at 5 a.m. July 4, the area will be off limits to cars and boats and the Kennedy Park boat ramp will remain closed all day, he said. Also, the area from the southwest corner of Park Avenue to the corner of the Community Development office, and from the tennis courts to the northeast corner of City Hall will be roped off and unavailable as a viewing area for the fireworks display. Edgewater’s Independence Day entertainment will be at a concession area along Riverside Drive, which will open at 6 p.m. There will be music at Menard-May Park before the fireworks. Riverside Drive, from Lamont Street to East Connecticut Avenue, will be closed to traffic from 5 p.m. July 4 until an hour after the fireworks end. Parking will be available at the north entrance of the New Smyrna Beach-Edgewater Cemetery and at the vacant lot at Lamont Street and North Ridgewood Avenue (U.S. 1). Handicapped parking for vehicles with official handicapped parking permits will be at City Hall. Alexis Tomberlin will celebrate her 7th birthday this Fourth of July and is looking forward to watching Edgewater’s fireworks. It’s been an annual tradition for her family. “Everybody goes to see them on the Fourth of July,” the New Smyrna Beach girl said. Fireworks and FunKicking off Saturday, local cities offer Southeast Volusia residents two weekends of Independence Day celebrations. New Smyrna Beach will present its Music in the Park celebration with music, food and games from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Riverside Park on Riverside Drive. The event will conclude with a fireworks display, which will begin at about 9. For more information, call (386) 424-2107. Edgewater will launch its fireworks display from Kennedy Park at about 9:15 p.m. July 4. Edgewater’s 2005 Independence Day entertainment will be limited to a concession area along Riverside Drive, which will open at 6 p.m. There will be music at Menard-May Park before the fireworks. For more information, call the Edgewater Fire-Rescue office, (386) 424-2445. In Samsula, the public is invited to the Fourth of July covered-dish supper and fireworks display at SNPJ Lodge, 421 N. Samsula Drive. The lodge will open at 5 p.m. and provide hot dogs and hamburgers. Take along a side dish or two to share. The fireworks display will begin at dark. |
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