Nearly 2,000 people attended the 10th annual Freedom Fest Sunday evening.
Individuals and famlies settled down on blankets, in chairs and across the grounds. Hundreds of people lined up to take advantage of the free meal, snow cones, cotton candy and watermelon. Many took a turn throwing a ball at a target to dunk people seated in the dunk tank, an event manned by members of Boundless Grace Baptist of Rogers. Children jumped in bounce houses, blew bubbles while waiting in line or just wandered around visiting with friends.
Pea Ridge city ordinances allow the purchase, sale and discharge of fireworks within the city limits.
Fireworks may be discharged on private property as follows:
• Noon to midnight daily from July 1-7.
• It shall be unlawful to discharge fireworks on any city street or city property.
• It shall be unlawful to use any fireworks if the city is under a burn ban.
• All persons using fireworks within the city shall promptly collect and remove any and all litter and debris resulting from such use.
Any discharging of fireworks outside of the allowances provided in the city ordinance will result in citations/fines.
"It's great. It's a good turnout," Edwin Brewer said. Brewer is pastor of Assembly of God, which began the event, and owner of USA Fireworks, which donates the fireworks. He credited both his members and other churches' members for the volunteer spirit that pulls the huge event together.
Brewer, who said this is his busy time of year with the fireworks company, credited church member Judy Majors with the bulk of the work pulling together the volunteers and all the work necessary to host the event.
Bands from Westside Baptist Church, the Ridge Community Church, First Assembly of God, River of God and 4 Thy Glory from Johnson County played music and sang gospel and praise songs to the crowds.
As it grew near sunset, volunteers from assisted Brewer in setting tarps on the ball fields on Weston Street and set out boxes and boxes of fireworks. Two Pea Ridge firefighters, Justin and Cory Lawson, donned their protective fire gear to ignite the fireworks.
For about 30 minutes, fireworks lit the night skies as storm clouds blew in from the west and lightning alternated with the fireworks. People sat in cars watching the event around town as far away as the business district on Townsend Way and Curtis Avenue.
Other fireworks displays in the northeast Benton County area this weekend include:
Lost Bridge
The Lost Bridge Village Community Association fireworks show is planned for about 9 p.m. Saturday, July 2. A rain date is set for July 3. The show can be seen on the water near the Lost Bridge and Starkey marinas or from the Lost Bridge Village Recreation Center, 11636 Dogwood Dr., Garfield.
Hamburgers, hot dogs and desserts will be sold at the center from 6 to 8 p.m. Performing live for second year before the show is Ted Tidwell and the Second Wind Band. Buhr said attendees should bring their own lawn chairs or blankets.
Faith Builders
A fireworks display is set for dark on Sunday, July 3, from the Weston Street ball fields sponsored by Faith Builders Church of Rogers.
Ventris Trail
The annual Ventris Trail's End Resort's fireworks display is planned for 8:30-10 p.m. Sunday, July 3, just south of marker 8 on Beaver Lake. This will be the 15th annual Ventris Trail's End Resort's Fireworks Display. Boaters can watch fireworks light up the night's sky, while listening to patriotic music.
Community on 06/29/2016