FRACKVILLE - Bryianna Pearson, 16, of Barnesville, sprained her left ankle Saturday playing softball in a game her team ultimately lost.
In an effort to cheer herself up, she decided on Sunday to go to a community fireworks display. And with friends and a pair of crutches, she made it to the show sponsored by the Frackville Area Community Fireworks Committee at the borough's Little League field on West High Street.
"Just wanted to have fun and see fireworks. Great way to bring friends together to have a good time," Pearson said.
Friends with her as she walked on crutches getting to the field at 8:30 p.m. included Kelsey Conroy, 15, of Frackville.
At 9:25 p.m., the skies above the borough were illuminated by bursts of red and white. An estimated 600 shells were fired off during the 20-minute show, said Mike Bixler, owner of Bixler Pyrotechnics, Ashland.
More than 1,000 people gathered at the community event and this was the second year Frackville Area Community Fireworks sponsored it, said the organization's president, John Blickley of Frackville.
"Previously, they used to have the fireworks at the mall, but last year a bunch of community groups worked to bring it back to town," Blickley said.
Sunday afternoon showers put organizers on edge.
"We had to make a decision by 1:30 or 2 o'clock, before they started setting up. We were looking at the weather for tomorrow and we felt Monday would be a worse day, so we took the risk tonight," Blickley said.
It was a good call. The skies cleared. And prior to the fireworks, the people who gathered to sit on blankets, throw footballs and feast on hamburgers, chicken fingers and nachos were treated to another light show, an orange sunset with the glow of a campfire.
Frackville Area Community Fireworks paid for the pyrotechnics and music by disc jockey, JB Sound, Ashland, but Blickley would not say how much the program cost.
"We've raised enough money for this year's event, and now we're working on next year's," Blickley said.
Meanwhile, the event gives community groups a chance to vend in the concession area.
"The big thing for us is to give the community groups who support us a chance to make a little money too. It's all about the community, people working together," Blickley said.
Organizations running food stands included the Frackville Little League, Frackville Girls Softball and the Frackville Free Public Library.