Park After Dark-Fireworks disply show needs sponsors

Location of fireworks display: Maury County Park
City: Columbia
State:TN

Date: 4th July
Show Contact: Sonjalyn Rine 931-375-6103
Event Website:http://www.mauryalliance.com/calendar_of_events?v=v&eid=808&m=6&y=2009&d=4
Fireworks display company:

Details: With just about one month to go, the Maury Alliance is still about $2,000 short of funds needed to pay for the community’s annual Independence Day celebration, “The Park After Dark.”“We’ve raised just under $2,000 so far. It typically takes about $4,000 for the pyrotechnics and entertainment, so we really need more sponsors to help with the cost of this year’s celebration,” said Janet Earwood, Maury Alliance vice president of membership.The Maury Alliance, the area’s official chamber of commerce, works with Maury County Parks and Recreation to host the free event each year at Maury County Park.Any businesses or individuals interested in helping to sponsor the fireworks display should send checks to Maury Alliance Fireworks, P.O. Box 1076, Columbia, TN 38402.“Any donations designated for the celebration are always used for that purpose,” Earwood said. “Maury County Parks and Recreation and members of the Maury Alliance have sponsored our Fourth of July Celebration for about 20 years as a gift to the community to provide a fun and safe way to enjoy the holiday.”

This year’s Independence Day celebration includes a 5K run, a five mile bike ride and a one mile fun run in Maury County Park. More information about these events is available from Rick Fisher at (931) 388-3435 or at http://www.turnthetideride.com/.“As usual, we’ll have plenty of different activities for all members of the family to enjoy, including some fun contests” said Sonjalyn Rine, recreation specialist with Maury County Parks and Recreation.Among those is the third annual “Smoking in the Park” amateur cook- off for kids and adults which has been moved from October to July 4. Judging begins at 1 p.m. Judges will be looking for whoever cooks the best hot-dog, smoked sausage, hamburger, barbecued chicken, pork ribs and dessert.Other contests include the 6th annual Patriotic Pet Contest, where everyone is encouraged to bring their four legged friends to compete for treats and prizes. Judging begins at 2 p.m
The 6th annual Watermelon Seed Spitting Competition starts at 3 p.m. Contestants will be judged on distance, style and accuracy.The next competition of the day is to see who will be crowned this year’s “Little Miss Firecracker.” Talented girls, 5-10 years of age, will be judged on talent, poise and personality. The pageant begins at 4 p.m. There is a $20 entry fee.The music portion of Maury County’s annual Fourth of July Celebration begins at 5 p.m. with a variety of music from local talent and a mix of classic rock and blues from the Independence Blues Band.Throughout the day, the young and young at heart will enjoy the Kids Zone filled with inflatables and lots of hands-on activities and vendors selling hot-dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, funnel cakes, fried Oreos, cotton candy and more.Maury County Park is located next to Columbia Central High School at 1018 Maury County Park Drive off of Lion Parkway. More information may be obtained by calling (931) 375-6103.