By Heather Lusk
Fireworks and Independence Day go hand-in-hand at Lions Park for the annual July 4 celebration, a major fundraiser for the Zionsville Lions Club.
The festivities begin at 5 p.m. culminating with a 25-minute fireworks display that begins at dusk, with between 12,000 and 15,000 people expected to attend.
“It’s one of the best venues to watch fireworks,” said Marty Miller with Mad Bomber Fireworks Production. “It creates a lot more avenues of what we can do when you have an audience that is right there.”
The second largest fundraiser for the Lions Club usually brings more than $10,000 to help with park improvements and maintenance.
“Not everybody knows that the park is 100 percent funded through donations and the programs that we put on,” event Co-chair Steve Gayheart said.
Parking at Lion’s Park or the lot at the corner of Sycamore Street and Zionsville Road is available for a $5 donation.
“There’s a lot of places that you can park, but you might have to walk a ways,” Gayheart said.
Free watermelon-eating and other contests hosted by the Boys and Girls Club will keep kids occupied, or they can enter the bounce house area for a fee. Adults can enjoy a local DJ and buy raffle tickets with the winner able to choose between $500 or a Weber grill donated by Akard True Value Hardware.
Miss Fall Festival and the newly crowned Miss Indiana and Miss Outstanding Teen are planning to make an appearance.
“Their first duty has been to attend our fireworks show,” Gayheart said. “So far, their schedules have worked out.”
Several food trucks plus Lions Club hot dogs, tenderloins, hamburgers and fries will be available throughout the evening.
The rain date for the celebration is July 9.
