SHAMOKIN - Red, white and blue and a host of other colors lit up the night sky Saturday over the Shamokin area as the annual fireworks display featuring a "fireball finale" once again delighted thousands gathered on hills, rooftops, porches, sidewalks and parking lots.
The 20-minute spectacular Fourth of July display, provided by Fire Art Corporation and sponsored by Citizens for a Better Community (CBC), highlighted a busy weekend for local folks, out-of-town relatives and people from the region who enjoyed seeing the brilliant sights while listening to pyrotechnics explode over the Glen Burn bank.
Many spectators nestled into their favorite vantage points to view the fireworks at about 9:40 p.m. after consuming food and refreshments at picnics or relaxing in air-conditioned homes to
escape the steamy temperatures that reached 90 degrees during the afternoon.
The fabulous display included new sequences this year that thrilled the large crowd. Just when it appeared the show was over, more shells were detonated in lightning rapidity that cascaded through the air in various colors, forms and sizes.
When the last fireworks exploded, an enormous cloud of smoke hovered over the mountain while spectators showed their appreciation with a loud round of applause.
About 20 minutes after the display in Shamokin, Clover Hose Fire Company of Mount Carmel held its own impressive fireworks show that delighted people of all ages.
The display was the climax for the fire company's annual picnic, which began with a parade on Thursday.
Donations were collected in the community to defray the cost of the display.
"Awesome" was the word used by Brandy Schreiber, 31, of Pitman, to describe the pyrotechnics in Shamokin.
Her two sons, Joshua Schreiber, 13, and Dustin Schreffer, 8, said the grand finale was the best.
"It made my night," Joshua said. His brother added, "I liked all of them. The colors and big bangs were great."
"They were pretty good this year," commented Bob Heraty of Kulpmont.
Twelve-year-old Jesse James, his 8-year-old brother, Logan James, and their 12-year-old friend, Gavin Dehaven, all of Coal Township, enjoyed the show while setting off their own brand of fireworks before and after the display.
"They were really good," said Jesse. "I enjoyed the ones that really spread out," Gavin added.
Pamala Rhoades, treasurer for CBC, reported more than $5,000 was raised throughout the day by volunteers stationed on Route 61 in front of Pool World, Sixth and Dewart streets by Len's Automotive, and near the Second Street playground in the city.
This year's show cost about $12,000.
Rhoades thanked everyone for their generous donations that will be used to pay for next year's display. She also praised CBC members and other volunteers involved with the planning of the show and fund-raising efforts throughout the year.
Some of the collectors got into the holiday spirit by donning patriotic attire.
CBC volunteers also have been selling an assortment of fireworks, sparklers and other smoky and noisy devices to raise money for the past two weeks at a storage facility on North Rock Street across from The News-Item.
A reborn relic of the area's past added to this year's fireworks displays as WISL1480.com broadcast a stream of patriotic music in Shamokin and Mount Carmel through its Internet radio site.
The fireworks were once again the main attraction of the Independence Day weekend, but the festivities continue today with CBC sponsoring a car cruise.
Participants are asked to bring their vehicles and a canned good to Spangenberg's Family Drive-In in Tharptown at 3:30 p.m.. All canned items will be donated to Shamokin's Manna for the Many food pantry.
The vehicles will travel on Route 61 through Weigh Scales to Paxinos, where they will turn onto Route 487 and head to Elysburg. At Elysburg, vehicles will turn right onto Route 54, traveling through Bear Gap, Natalie and Strong. The cruise will then turn right onto Route 61, traveling through Kulpmont and Coal Township to Independence Street in Shamokin, where classic vehicles will be on display from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Any vendors interested in setting up in the downtown area can do so at no cost from 3:30 p.m. through the end of the show.