The first Pottsville City Independence Celebration brought the community together Saturday for a parade, food, music and fireworks.
The festivities, organized by the Pottsville Positive Committee, began at 2 p.m. with a parade that started at Giant Food Store on Progress Avenue and continued to Union Station's parking lot, where Celebration at the Station followed at 3 p.m. The event featured local music, rides and games.
Zachary Snyder, 3, of Pottsville, was excited for the parade to begin and said he was excited to see the bands play.
Zachary's parents, Megan and Brian Snyder, said they went to the parade to see their son happy.
Ben Yeisley, 10, of North Carolina, enjoyed his time visiting Pottsville and seeing the parade with his cousins, Ethan Grabowski, 8, and Ryan Grabowski, 6. He said the best part is the candy that he gets from parade.
Ethan Grabowski said his favorite part would be the fireworks.
When Yeisley was asked what his favorite part of being in Pottsville for the holiday weekend was, he put his arm around his two cousins, pulled them in close and smiled.
Donna Keely, 54, of Pottsville, enjoys going to holiday parades for herself and her granddaughter, Callie, 7, of Pottsville.
"I haven't seen a good parade in a long time," Keely said. "It's great, I'm all for it. There are more things to do for the kids."
The diversity of the city's community shined brightly throughout the parade. The parade featured fire vehicles, veterans, current servicemen and city officials - Mayor James T. Muldowney, Schuylkill County commissioners George Halcovage and Gary Hess and city Councilman Mark Atkinson - and groups such as the Actors Guild of Schuylkill County, McCormick School of Irish Dance, local sports teams, Boy Scouts and musicians.
Being in the Independence Day parade "means a lot" to Scoutmaster Ed Hossler of St. Patrick Pottsville Boy Scout Troop 615 because he is a veteran. He said he was in the military for four years.
Halcovage and Hess said they were honored to walk in the parade.
"Independence Day brings joy and helps us understand what freedom means. We need to be reminded each year," Hess said.
He also said it was important to remind the kids and get them involved in the festivities, like the parade.
Halcovage said independence celebrations mean family coming together.
"In our fast-paced society, we don't take the time to interact. Parades make us do that," Halcovage said. "We have a great community here."
Beth Kunstek, 34, of Pottsville, who walked with the Crimson Tide Wrestling Team, said the Independence Day events were "all about our armed forces and supporting our country."
Kunstek also said they walked "to support the team and get other kids interested."
The festivities continued at 8 p.m. with Jammin' at the Joulwan at Gen. George A. Joulwan Park amphitheater. Local band Ricky and the Ricardos provided entertainment for the 21 and older event.
"It's a great time. You better bring your dancing shoes," city Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said.
For many families, the Independence Day celebration concluded with the city fireworks at 9:30 p.m. at Lawtons Hill near Nativity BVM High School. The fireworks were set off by Bixler Pyrotechnics, Ashland.
In previous years, the fireworks have been launched from the 16th Street Field across from John S. Clarke Elementary Center.
Muldowney said the festivities reminded him that our "forefathers, veterans and others fought for our freedom."
"The Pottsville Positive Committee did a bang up job planning today's events," Muldowney said.
He said the committee plans to do an independence celebration annually.
Muldowney also said he was most excited because his granddaughter, Maddy, 1, was at the parade.
"I'm happy and excited about the way today turned out," city Councilman Joe Devine said. "The police did a great job controlling traffic on such a busy road."
Devine is part of the Pottsville Positive Committee, which formed after Muldowney was elected. He said they have already started brainstorming for next year's Independence Day celebration.