ASHLAND — Fireworks painted the sky over Freer Field on Saturday for America’s 250th Birthday Party.
Hundreds gathered to watch what organizers called “the largest fireworks display in Ashland County’s history.”
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ashland, the party started at 5 p.m. with food vendors, live music from Tom’s Kitchen Table and Rare Vintage.
Mayor Matt Miller, Rotary Club President Dr. Steve Yoder and fireworks committee chair Mitch Piskur all made special appearances Saturday. The traffic to leave began at 10:25 p.m. when the fireworks ended.
Families spread out blankets and lawn chairs in anticipation for the evening fireworks finale.
“Each year, the Rotary Club of Ashland is responsible for raising the funds to put on the community fireworks. And this year, they doubled their efforts,” Miller said. “So, tonight’s show will be more than twice the size of our normal celebration.”
The display was produced by Zambelli Fireworks, which has presented Ashland’s Independence Day fireworks the past three years.
Piskur said the Rotary Club has sponsored the fireworks for more than 40 years.
“This year was certainly a special year with the 250th. So we wanted to step up the efforts in honor of that,” Piskur said.
The show normally runs 20 to 22 minutes, but this year ran about 28 minutes.
The Rotary Club also drew their winner for the 50-50 raffle during the event. The winner received $7,500.
A haze of smoke settled over the field after the fireworks concluded, marking an end to the evening’s celebration.
See photos below for more of America’s 250th Birthday Party:
