Fireworks displays will pop

By GINA KINSLOW

GLASGOW — The fireworks display at Barren River Lake State Park draws a huge crowd every year, but when the state said “no” to allocating funds to support the event this year state park officials feared there would be no fireworks for the Fourth of July Celebration.

But thanks to the hard work of a non-profit group, Friends of Barren River Lake, there will be fireworks at the state park this year on July 4.

“We are having the fireworks as sponsored by the Friends of Barren River Lake. The show will take place as it always has, which is about 9 o’clock,” said Monica Conrad, state park manager.

The Friends of Barren River Lake raised the $7,500 needed for the fireworks display.

In addition to the fireworks display, the Friends of Barren River Lake have agreed to pick up the cost for a band, Swamp Funk Society, to perform during the state park’s annual Fourth of July beach party. The band performs a mix of music from the ‘60s and ‘70s, as well as some blues and bluegrass, Conrad said.

“We will also have vendors selling pizza and snow cones,” she said, adding the public will be allowed to bring its own picnic meal if it desires.

The event is free to the public.

In addition to the state park’s fireworks display, Jellystone Park Camp Resort on Mammoth Cave Road in Cave City is teaming up with the city of Cave City and the Cave City Chamber of Commerce for a fireworks display on July 3.

“The event drew at least 1,000 folks last year, a record breaker since we started the partnership,” said Carol DeGroft, executive secretary for the Chamber of Commerce.

The fireworks will get under way between 8:45 and 9 p.m. Event organizers urge the public to bring blankets and lawn chairs to watch the fireworks.

“Concessions will be available courtesy and to the benefit of the Cave City and Highland United Methodist Church Youth Group,” DeGroft said.

The event is also free to the public, however, DeGroft said donations will be accepted.

Mammoth Cave National Park will also celebrate the Fourth of July, much in the same way folks did before the area became a national park.

“For about 100 years local people celebrated the Fourth of July out at Mammoth Cave. When the park moved in, people who were moved out went back there for a homecoming,” said Lee Davis, president of the Mammoth Cave National Park Association.

The event featured dinner on the ground and games for the entire family, as well as live music.

The Mammoth Cave National Park Association wanted to bring that type of celebration back to the national park this year.

“We haven’t had one since the 1980s,” Davis said.

The event is open to the public.

“It’s just for everybody,” he said. “It’s good clean fun. We have some picnic shelters rented so people who want to picnic can come over.”

At Mammoth Cave Hotel a display will be set up for those who want to learn more about the history of Mammoth Cave and those who lived near it before it became a national park.

“The Rotunda Room in the hotel will be open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and that is sort of a history, genealogy room,” Davis said. “There will be land records there and cemetery records there.” A program featuring bluegrass music by the Hays Brothers, Dennis Trent and Bluegrass Express is set to take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the amphitheater in front of the hotel.

Folk humorist Wendell Cave will also be on hand to entertain the crowd, he said.

“It will be just a nice program,” Davis said. “No charge to anybody.”