Park Set to Celebrate Holiday with Entertainment, Fireworks

By Joel Frady

The Ashe County Park will be bustling with life and activities on Saturday, July 4, as Ashe County Park and

Recreation holds their annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration. Although the light show won't begin until after dark, the park will feature bluegrass musicians on the Blevins Stage, an area featuring children's rides and even a wrestling show.

Joe Boccardy, director of Ashe County Parks and Recreation, said he has been told "that it's one of the largest county park-put on shows, and one of the nicest because the park is so pretty." He said that between 3,000 and 5,000 people are expected on Saturday, and the crowds will start arriving at the park as early as 9 a.m. to secure their spot for the fireworks show, but that a majority will pour into the park an hour or two before sundown.

Boccardy said that the traffic plan is well-organized and they have "cut down on the mayhem" from previous years.

"It used to be crazy parking with no organization whatsoever," he said. "We've gotten more green space to where people can walk around, and they picnic and they have blankets out."

To help facilitate the parking situation, a park-and-ride will be offered starting at 3 p.m. The Ashe County Transportion Authority will provide four shuttles that will transport people from the parking lot at the Ashe County Courthouse in Jefferson to the park, and will continue to run once the event is over to transport everyone back to the courthouse. There will be two separate routes after the show, as well, as all cars will be directed to the right from the park so that the shuttles can use Wade Bear Road.

Boccardy noted that people in the past have praised the park-and-ride.

"People that use that shuttle are always like 'Man, I got in and out of there so fast. We used to wait in traffic for hours,'" he said. It also serves as overflow parking since the park will close the gates once their lots are full.

The entire Ashe County Parks and Recreation staff will be working the entire day, however, to keep the park and the crowds in order. The fireworks will be set up in mortar tubes on the knob above the lake view shelter, and all visitors are asked to avoid that area.

Live music will start at 2 p.m., with bands performing in 45-minute intervals. The Grayson Highlands Band will play at 2 and 6 p.m.; Thunder Valley Band will play at 3 and 7 p.m.; The Sheets Family will play at 4 and 8 p.m.; and the Brian McSwain Band will play at 5 and 9 p.m. At approximately 9:45 p.m., Sierra Wilson will sing The Star Spangled Banner before the fireworks.

The children's rides will be set up in the field beside Blevins Stage. The cost will be $8 to purchase a band to enjoy the rides.

The park is also introducing a new act this year, as Jim "Shamus" Maloney of 13th floor production will host a patriotic wrestling show. Maloney said that he has been hosting "kid-friendly" wrestling events for approximately four years and that most are either free or benefit shows held at Family Central.

"It's going to be great," he said of Saturday's show. "We're working up a show that's going to be patriotic." The show will feature a variety of battles for the holiday, including the night's highlight battle between Uncle Sam and Adolf Hitler.

"We have lots of props and shenanigans," Maloney said. He noted that "normally professional wrestling is just a little bit violent for our taste, so we put on a totally family-friendly show."

At approximately 10 p.m., the park will begin their fireworks show that will feature more than $10,000 worth of pyrotechnics.

For Boccardy and the park staff, the day gives them a chance to enjoy the park and all the guests. Rita Privette, administrative coordinator for Parks and Recreations, said that she enjoys "the face to face" with the community.

"It's our only interaction," she said. "Very rarely do some of us get to be in the park and see everybody come out," so July 4 "is a great time for all the staff to have that hands-on interaction."

Ashe County Parks and Recreation asks that people who attend Saturday's show follow a handful of rules, including: No dogs in the park; no personal fireworks except sparklers (anyone violating this rule will be asked to leave); and no glass containers. Parents with young children are encouraged to bring ear protection.

Anyone wanting to help clean-up after the event is encouraged to do so, for the park will reopen to the public on Sunday morning.

To find out more about the event or the park, call Ashe County Parks and Recreation at (336) 982-6185 or click to www.ashecountygov.com/ParksandRec/index.htm.