Solsberry to host its 17th annual fireworks show on Friday

Country music will fill the air.

There will be plenty of good food and friendly fellowship.

Traditionally, Solsberry hosts one of the largest annual fireworks displays in the area that lights up the sky for miles in impressive fashion for a show that lasts about 45 minutes, according to Beech Creek Township Trustee Larry Shute, who has helped the Eastern Greene Volunteer Fire Department put on the show for the last 17 years.

The fireworks begin at dusk -- which is about 9:45 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the fire department and a large group of area business and individual financial supporters.

For one evening the tiny village of Solsberry will see its population explode in fireworks fashion.

Most years, a crowd estimated by Shute and fire department officials at more than 4,000, pack into and around the tiny town that normally has a population of less than 400.

The festivities start about 6 p.m. on the grounds around the fire station and the trustee's building and spills over into Shute's front and side yards -- which serves as a first come, first serve parking lot and on up the hill along State Road 43.

Shute's backyard provides a perfect location to set up lawn chairs and watch the entertainment stage that will feature a live band -- "Craig and Darla Koons Band" -- from Bloomington. The band will be joined by several local musicians, according to Shute.

"It will be about an hour of music starting about 8. It's free entertainment," Shute said.

Near the fire station, food vendors will set up to sell hot dogs; hamburgers, corn dogs, smoked barbecue sandwiches and dinners; kettle corn; snow cones, and soft drinks.

Proceeds from the concessions go back into the community, he stressed.

"It's more of a thank you to the community than it is a fundraiser," Shute noted.

Shute pointed out that support for the fireworks event is always very good from businesses and individuals who donate money and from the patrons who attend.

About $8,900 has been raised for the fireworks show and Shute added, "The grand finale will be a little bigger than usual, I think.

"It's hard to put a number on it, but from east to west and north to south I wouldn't be surprised if there are 4,000 people watching the fireworks," he said. "We have people coming in from basically all over the southern part of the state."

He added, "It's always a good time for everybody and we try to make it as good for people as we can."

After the fireworks show, Shute cautioned patrons to be patient and not get in too big of a hurry to rush out of town.

The traffic does move slow.

Shute has contacted Greene County Sheriff Terry Pierce and he'll have a crew dispatched to assist with traffic control.

"There's really not much we can do about that. It's the nature of the beast. It's unfortunate, but we have good cooperation from Terry Pierce and his crew helping us with traffic."