BURNSIDE, KENTUCKY — The Burnside 2019 Independence Day Celebration will be held Friday, July 5 from 6-10 p.m., offering plenty of fun in the form of music, attractions, food — and of course, big, loud booms.
“Independence day is an honored tradition that has brought families together to observe the freedom that we have today,” said Burnside Tourism Director Frank Crabtree, Jr.
“Burnside wanted to make this event special and fun for our whole area. At the same time we are celebrating we want to pay homage to those who have served and sacrificed in so many ways.”
This year, the festival isn’t just centered around Cole Park, located behind City Hall. Burnside Mayor Robert Lawson noted that there would be two locations for live bands — both in the park, and up on Main Street at the intersection with West French Avenue.
“I’m expecting a much bigger event this year,” said Lawson, who welcomed not just Burnside citizens but Pulaskians from all over the county to come and celebrate.
“We’re going to have a big fireworks show,” said Lawson. “We’re hoping the people of Somerset come down and visit us. (The fireworks show) will be about 30 minutes, and is as good if not better than last year.”
He added, “The only thing we asked the fireworks promoter for, we want a lot of color, and he promised a lot of color.”
Crabtree doesn’t view what Somerset has done as competition, but wants Burnside’s show to stand on its own merits.
“We hope it’s viewed as one of the largest (in the area),” he said. “We’ve put a lot of work into making it not only about fireworks, but a big event for the family as well.”
Performing live on the two stages (sponsored by Gatormade) will be favorite area bands The Catdaddies and Laurel Knox & the Whitleys.
Plenty of patriotism will be on parade as well. Air Methods will do a flyover during the singing of the national anthem, and a live bald eagle will brought for display by the Liberty Nature Center from here in Pulaski.
And something special for Crabtree — his father Frank Sr., a local radio icon, will be returning to do a special on-air Rocking Burnside Live Independence Day Show from a professional studio from 6 to 9 p.m. and will be effectively emceeing the event on-air.
Favorite costumed characters will be brought to life to delight children via the Palace in Burnside, including Spider-Man, the Hulk, Moana, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.
Other attractions include balloon animals, glowing novelties, a bouncy house, and a “huge” craft show.
There will also be nearly a dozen food vendors, with Summit Meats, Mambo’s Italian Food Truck, Burnside Bingo & Pub, Kona Ice, the Goodie Shack, Tacos Tanaco, Zimmerman’s Famous Pig, L and M, Burnside Food Stop Cafe, Eastern Star, and Lemon Shake Ups.
“I’m excited about everything,” said Crabtree. “It’s going to be rowdy.”
Hopes are to expand the celebration even more in the future and extend it to three days around the Fourth of July.
“It’s one of the things the mayor has always really wanted to do,” he said. “It feels like an opportunity to pull the community together and do some really cool things. Anything to do with Independence in southern Kentucky is big.”
Added Lawson, “It’s one of my favorite events. I like to come to the park and look out and see a lot of families I’d like to see Burnside turn into a family-oriented town. It’s something to give back to the community.”
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