Friday night will be the 16th annual Boomer Blast consisting of a fishing tournament in the morning and fireworks show at dark. The show will be bigger than previous shows and coordinator’s have high expectations.
Thousands of Stillwater residents can expect big bangs at dusk from fireworks at Boomer Lake on the Fourth of July as Stillwater Parks Events and Recreation hosts the 16th annual Boomer Blast.
The Lions Club of Stillwater put on the fireworks show in the past at old Lewis field, but safety concerns prompted the move to Boomer Lake, Facilities Manager Larry Devers said.
Since Stillwater Parks Events and Recreation began hosting the event at Boomer Lake, a family fishing tournament has been added and attendance at the tournament and the fireworks show has increased yearly, Grounds Manager Rodney Wilson said.
In the future, Stillwater Parks Events and Recreation hopes to increase attendance with concerts, vendors and activities for children throughout the day at Boomer Lake, Frazier said.
“Years ago it was a great day for everyone,” Devers said. “I’d love to see that happen again.”
Bad weather has hampered momentum the last couple of years, Frazier said. With a few more good years the department could definitely see adding more to the Fourth of July celebration. Although the Fourth is not packed with activities, “It’s always a fun time,” Devers said.
At 6 a.m. registration will begin for a family fishing tournament that Stillwater Parks Events and Recreation has hosted for 12 years, according to http://www.stillwater.org.
The fishing tournament will end at 11 a.m. and Boomer Lake will get a break until 6:45 p.m., when the department will host a performance by the Hillcrest Choir, according to the Web site. After the choir’s performance the Stillwater Community Band will play at 8 p.m., according to the site.
Finally, the fireworks will begin at dusk. Stillwater doesn’t spend much money on advertisements for the fireworks show, director of marketing and public relations Sherry Fletcher said. The fireworks sell themselves thanks to pyrotechnist Kevin Hannah, Frazier said.
“Kevin Hannah is awesome,” Frazier said.
Hannah works for Wald Incorporated out of Greenwood, Mo. He plans and executes seven fireworks shows per year around Oklahoma.
“Stillwater’s show will be 10 percent bigger this year,” Hannah said. “We’ll have 1,400 shells total, but 500 of them will be shot off in the last 30 seconds for the finale.”
The show will be 20 minutes long, and it will be set to music, Hannah said.
With all the work that goes into setting up a large show, Hannah has high praise for Stillwater’s Boomer Blast.
“Stillwater is the biggest and the best fireworks show I have ever seen,” Hannah said.
Loading ...
All Articles