Fireworks will spray an array of color across the sky above Schuylkill County this weekend as communities celebrate Independence Day.
In Port Carbon, a new event has been added to the borough's annual day of festivities. The inaugural Firecracker 5K will be held at 8:30 a.m. today. Runners or walkers will follow a 3.1-mile course through Port Carbon and part of Palo Alto, starting and finishing at Miller Playground.
Deniece Krater, chairwoman of the Port Carbon Citizens Committee, said 95 participants have registered as of Tuesday. She said registration will be open today until the start of the 5K for $20. The first 200 participants will receive a T-shirt, and the overall male and female winners will get Oakley sunglasses.
All proceeds from the 5K will benefit the Port Carbon Fourth of July parade and fireworks.
Krater said the annual baby parade will start to line up at 9:30 a.m. at the former Miller's Factory-Carbon Textile Building. The parade is scheduled to step off at 10 a.m.
Krater said the timing of the parade will depend on the end of the 5K.
"It's going to be like a fine-running machine," she said.
Krater said the parade, which features babies and children up to age 12, will be divided into six divisions. They are: walkers and dogs; wagons and battery-powered vehicles; boys and girls bicycles; scooters and skateboards; non-motor, man-pulled floats, and truck-pulled floats.
The day will end with a firework display at 10 p.m. from Monument Hill. Krater said food vendors and radio station WMGH 105.5 will be set up at 5 p.m. at the park for the thousands of people expected to attend the show. Krater said a rain date for the fireworks is Saturday.
On Saturday, Mahanoy City will host its Community Day and fireworks show.
Councilwoman Patti Schnitzius said Community Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature pony rides, games, bounce houses, a petting zoo and musical entertainment. DJ Kristen will play at 10 a.m., followed by the Cressona Band at noon. Schnitzius said the event usually draws a large crowd, especially if the weather is good.
"It's about a thousand. That's just a guess," she said. "I make sure everyone there is having a good time."
Schnitzius said food vendors will be selling a variety of ethnic food, including pizza, halupki, bundukies, clam chowder and Caribbean cuisine.
She said the Mahanoy Historical Society will be open and a history of Mahanoy Area football display will be at the Teen Canteen.
The festivities will continue with a fireworks display at dusk at Mahanoy Area Alumni Field. The Upper Schuylkill Band will open the night festivities with a pre-fireworks concert at the field.
The last Independence Day fireworks show in Mahanoy City was in 2009, according to newspaper archives. The return of the pyrotechnic display was an idea by Mahanoy Area students through the Schuylkill County Youth Summit.
"It was an effort by the school and the community so that makes it more special," Schnitzius said.
Other Fourth of July celebrations scheduled are:
- East Union Township: Summerfest will be held from noon to 10 p.m. today and Saturday at the municipal ground, 10 E. Elm St., Sheppton. The '70s Flashback show will provide entertainment from 6 to 9 p.m. today. The fireworks display will be held at dusk Saturday, with a rain date set for Sunday.
- Pottsville: The City Independence Celebration will be held from 2 p.m. to midnight Saturday. The Progress Community Parade will step off at 2 p.m. from Giant Food Store, 500 Progress Ave. and end at Union Station, where a celebration will be held starting at 3 p.m., featuring vendors and music. Jammin' at the Joulwan, an event for adults 21 and older, is slated from 8 p.m. to midnight at Gen. George A. Joulwan East Side Park. There will be a $5 cover charge. The fireworks display will launch at 9:30 p.m. from Lawton's Hill near Nativity BVM High School.
- Schuylkill Haven: The borough will host its Family Fun Night and fireworks show from 4 to 9:30 p.m. July 12 at the Island.
- Sweet Arrow Lake County Park: The park in Pine Grove will host its annual Concert in the Park at 6 p.m. today, featuring the Pine Grove Community Band. The concert is free to the public.
- Summit Station: The Vraj Temple, 51 Manor Road, will sponsor a fireworks show at 8:45 p.m. Saturday. Parking is available at the campus.
