Published: June 30, 2009 09:17 pm      

Fourth of July sparks residents’ memories

BLUEFIELD — Fireworks shows for the 2009 edition of the Fourth of July weekend help bring back memories of shows from Fourth of July past.

For many, fireworks are a treat for any holiday, not just July 4. One area resident remembers that he lit fireworks when snow was on the ground.

“We got a few Roman candles and skyrockets for Christmas and we shot them off Christmas night,” said Russell Synan of Peel Chestnut Mountain near Pocahontas, Va. An annual fireworks show will start July 3 at approximately 9:20 p.m. on the mountain.

“We shoot the fireworks on July 3 on account of Pocahontas, Va., doing theirs on the fourth,” Synan said. “This makes 15 years for us.”

Going to a fireworks show was always an event, said Synan’s wife, Patricia.

“Bluefield’s is about the only one we went to when we were small,” she recalled. “We lived in the country and didn’t get to go very often. Sometimes the neighbors would put off some fireworks, just little things like sparklers.”

The Peel Chestnut Mountain festival will feature free hay rides and no admission for music by Country Pride, CharLy Markwart and Diamonds in the Rough, Booge and Linda Monk & Friends, The Whites of West Virginia, and Brandon Farley with Misty River

On July 4 in Pocahontas, Va. a fireworks celebration will begin at dusk at Laurel Park. The show is part of this year’s theme, “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave,” town officials said.

Organizations and clubs are being encouraged to enter floats, decorated cars, four-wheelers, bikes, motorcycles, horses and wagons. The parade, which begins 7 p.m., lines up at Rodriquez Funeral Home and Mack’s Oil parking lot. Food and refreshments will be sold at the park.

In the Bluefields, a fireworks show scheduled July 3 will begin after the Bluefield Orioles baseball game at Bowen Field, according to the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce.

Another helping of holiday fireworks is scheduled July 4 at Graham Middle School in Bluefield, Va. The show begins 9:15 p.m.

In Tazewell, Va., fireworks will begin July 4 when night falls at Tazewell High School. Festivities begin 6:30 p.m. with a free Independence Day Concert featuring “Memories of Motown,” a dance band specializing in music from the Fifties, Motown, classic Soul and the Sixties. Children’s inflatable rides, BBQ by “All Smoked Up” will also be featured.

Fireworks will also be offered in Jewell Ridge, Va. July 4 starting between 9:30 and 10 p.m. The Collegians will perform Friday, and other musicians will be performing Saturday.

In another part of the region, fireworks had not been scheduled in Princeton because a suitable site meeting fire and safety requirements had not been found.

“Until 2007, the July 4 fireworks display in the City of Princeton was held at either Hunnicutt Stadium or Princeton City Park,” said City Manager Wayne Shumate. “However, due to safety and emergency response issues, these locations were determined to be unsafe as well as not suitable for the fireworks event to take place. Additionally, effort to identify a viable location in the City of Princeton have been unsuccessful.”

As designated by WV State Code 29-3-24, all fireworks events are regulated and authorized by the State Fire Marshal’s office and must meet minimum criteria, Shumate said.

“The criteria for a new site would include a large-enough area so homes and businesses would not be impacted,” he said. “Also, appropriate space for parking and restroom facilities or accommodations for the public should be available. In addition, passable highway access would be necessary in case of an accident or emergency.”

In Buchanan County, fireworks will start 10 p.m., July 4, at Poplar Gap Park near Grundy, Va.

The Town of Narrows, Va. in Giles County will have fireworks July 4 at dusk in the town’s park.

In Bland County, Va., fireworks are part of the festivities July 4 at Bastion Union Church Park along with a picnic, flea market and concert.