Let’s Celebrate! Fireworks After Dark in Farmville

For more photos of this event, go to southsidemessengerphotos.shutterfly.com.

Folks that attended the annual Fourth of July celebration held at Newman Air Field on the outskirts of Farmville experienced a real treat this year. The event was held rain or shine, due in large part to a better-safe-than-sorry cancellation of last year’s event because of a threat of rain that never materialized. This year, however, the rain did come, although it really did not seem to matter to those in attendance. The fun of the celebration at hand held a high priority for the evening. The intermittent light showers lasted just long enough to get everybody without an umbrella wet on Friday evening. However, those same showers did little to dampen the spirits of the people that turned out for what was truly a well thought out, patriotic and fun filled event. A bounce house and a rock climbing wall gave the children plenty to do when they weren’t chasing each other around the huge expanse of grassy lawn between the airport runway and the driveway leading into the airport terminal. The rock climbing wall even offered an unexpected degree of difficulty in that the rain kept the hand- and toeholds wet and slippery for the whole evening. A colorful sea of umbrellas steadily grew in front of the bandstand as the parking area out front filled with cars full of family members and friends. Class Act, a well-known local band that plays regularly at area functions, started off the music for the evening. Their collection of music, some Motown, some funk, some pop, but all great to hear, got everybody’s blood pumping. Between the bands that played Friday evening, a talent show, with contestants from the local area, competed for top spot. The judges chose Kiera Walker, 13 as the winner. The young lady’s singing voice left the audience spellbound. Cory Byrd and Darian Lipscomb also placed in the competition.

An added treat on Friday night was the presence of Farmville native turned singing sensation Bridget Carrington and her band Theory. Ms. Carrington, many may recall, started singing gospel music at a very early age. Her hard work and beautiful singing voice eventually landed her a spot on the ABC singing contest “Duets” where she paired up with Grammy award winner John Legend on eight different occasions. Even though Bridget currently lives in Atlanta, Farmville will always home.

Even with all of the festive food, fun activity and fine entertainment, any Fourth of July celebration would be lacking without fireworks. Farmville’s Friday night event fully lived up to its name: “Fireworks After Dark.” From the first intricate display of an American Flag all lit up in Red, White and Blue fireworks, through the whole light show to the spectacular Grand Finale, an apparent and undeniable patriotic theme shown through. The official song for each of the four branches of our nation’s military, Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, along with renditions of some of our nation’s most patriotic and stirring songs played in their grandest styles as the fireworks lit up the sky in an exciting display of light, and color and sound.

A genuine “Congratulations” should go to the organizers of “Fireworks After Dark” in Farmville. It was an evening of fun for all who attended, but something even bigger than that was apparent. It was a chance for friends, strangers and families to get together in the midst of, even in spite of, all the things that seem determined these days to undermine us and tear us apart. It was a thoughtful and patriotic remembrance that folks young and old were able to enjoy.