On Saturday, members of the Sister Lakes community came out to the local Lions Park for a night of festivities that could only best be described as a giant blast.

The lakeside community had its annual Fourth of July festivities a week early this weekend, with its annual Bigfoot Parade taking place in the afternoon, followed by a fireworks show held that evening inside the park grounds.

Both Independence Day celebrations are a longtime tradition for the people Sister Lakes, with organizers saying they have been taking place inside the small community for well over two decades.

“It’s part of Americana,” said Lions Club member Ron Jacobs about the outdoor festivities — and we couldn’t agree more.

Several other local communities in our readership areas are holding their own Fourth of July celebrations in the coming days:

• Niles Fireworks and Family Fun Festival: Apple Festival Fair Grounds, North 17th Street, July 2

• Dowagiac: Russom Park, 28776 Yaw St., July 3

• Cassopolis: Diamond Lake Fireworks, Shore Acres Road, July 4

• Edwardsburg Fireworks over Eagle Lake: North Shore Drive, July 4

In some communities, these firework shows have been longstanding traditions, like in Sister Lakes; in others, they are relatively new events that have already made an immediate impact with locals.

These celebrations are only made possible by the tireless work that local service organizations pour into them. It’s no easy feet to lineup someone to handle these dangerous explosives, to find a safe area to set them off in, and to find volunteers to make sure that parking and other needs are met to handle the massive influx of people visiting the show that night.

In addition, many of these shows are only made possible through donations from local business and residents.

Besides being a fun way to ring in the 239th birthday of our country, these events bring together neighbors in a way that few other city events can. Be it the loud, crackling explosions or vibrant colors that light up the night sky, there’s something about fireworks that delight nearly everybody, no matter their background. For at least one night, people can forget about the things that divide them and focus on the things they share — their country, and the community they live and work in.

We encourage readers to carve out some time this weekend to enjoy one of these shows with family and friends.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.