Bexley’s Fourth of July fireworks will be held at Capital University this year after three years of being held at Wolfe Park.
Fourth of July committee chairman Tim Madison said he wants the Fourth of July to be a special event beyond just the fireworks.
“We want to make it a huge community event,” Madison said.
The fireworks were moved back to Bexley both to honor the centennial and to give Bexley residents easier access to the fireworks, Madison said.
Fourth of July planning committee chairperson Anne Lewis said that the move was also based on nostalgia and tradition.
“It’s one of our biggest community events,” Lewis said. “We hope that by bringing the fireworks back, albeit on a much smaller scale, we’ll be able to celebrate our centennial in a true community fashion.”
Madison also said that the Fourth should be celebrated in Bexley.
“It’s proper to celebrate in the city,” Madison said.
City Council President Matt Lampke said that the fireworks were originally held at the high school until three years ago when the school was undergoing renovations. The fireworks were then moved to Wolfe Park, but the new additions to the school limited the amount of space available and created a fire hazard, Lampke said.
The committee examined several sites around Bexley as potential places to set off the fireworks, including the high school and Jeffrey Mansion, but decided on the Capital field because the other sites were too close to the nearby houses, Madison said.
Madison added that Capital is hosting the fireworks and all the Fourth of July entertainment.
“They’ve been very cooperative,” Madison said.
The new location at Capital will make it easier for Bexley citizens to enjoy the fireworks, Madison said.
“People didn’t like going all the way to Wolfe Park,” Madison said. “We wanted to get back to tradition and have people walk to the fireworks.”
Lampke said he sees the close location as an advantage.
“I expect a great turnout,” Lampke said. “A lot of residents [will be] walking to the area.”
Madison said that he hopes that a lot of Bexley residents will be able to make the journey over to Capital to participate in all the events.
“It’s more than just fireworks,” Madison said.
Lewis agreed.
“We see this as a big community and family event,” she said.
The event, which is at the Capital University field from 6 to 11 p.m., will include three bands, a drumline, face painting, balloons, games and a cookout along with the usual fireworks, Madison said.
Lampke encouraged residents to volunteer and help with cleaning up after the event.
The firework show will be around the same size as the fireworks that were held at the high school three years ago, but smaller than the fireworks at Wolfe Park, Madison said.
The fireworks at Wolfe Park were six inches long, which meant they went up to 600 feet, whereas the Capital fireworks will be two inches and go up 200 feet, Madison said.
Madison added that there is community support for bringing the fireworks back.
“I think we’ve only received one letter of concern from a resident,” Madison said.
Madison added that he hopes the community will be involved in the event. Madison said that he encourages participation in the games and activities by community members and local businesses.
“I hope that everyone will come out and help make this a family event,” Madison said.