Fireworks Display to light up "Celebrate Melrose" weekend

Display location:Melrose High School football field.
City:Melrose
State: Massachusetts
Date:Sept. 12 at 8 p.m

Details: "Celebrate Melrose," a weekend event kicking off on Saturday, Sept. 12, just got a bigger bang for its buck.

Mayor Robert Dolan announced Tuesday that the event would include a fireworks display on Saturday night at the Melrose High School football field. The 25-minute display will begin promptly at 8 p.m., but a DJ start spinning at 6 p.m., when games and concessions will be available.

Dolan said the fireworks would help draw Melrosians past and present to the weekend festival, which includes the 29th Annual Victorian Fair on Sunday.

"We want this to be our signature celebration," he said, adding that a large crowd would help local businesses and bring the community closer together. He credited former Mayor Dick Lyons with spearheading the effort to add fireworks to the program.

"Well that's nice of the mayor, but it was his idea," said Lyons. He led a committee of local business leaders and city officials who brainstormed funding strategies for the big bang. The committee asked 11 area businesses to back the fireworks, raising about $14,000 in no time, according to Lyons.

"We have a lot of people who are very community-oriented, so raising money was fairly easy," Lyons said, noting that they ended up with a $3,000 surplus, which the city plans to set aside for a fireworks display next year.

But the inaugural blast is a tribute to former Mayor James Milano, who turns 100 this month and still remains active in local affairs.

"He's the most remarkable person I've ever meant," Lyons said.

Other weekend events include a "vintage" baseball game at Morelli Field; Victorian Tea at the Beebe Estate, which requires a reservation; a dog show at Lewis Monk Field; and an open house at the Boston Metro Hi-Railers Train Club on Essex Street.

Dolan wants to keep the weekend a jam-packed extravaganza - powder keg included - for years to come.

"We want to keep this going every year," he said.