A favorite patriotic tradition returns to northern Logan County Friday, July 4, when Belle Center’s 43rd annual Independence Day Celebration lights up the sky, through the efforts of more than 30 dedicated individuals in an all-volunteer committee.
The strong community ties and love for seeing this fun-filled event come to fruition keeps the passionate volunteers coming back each year, or in some cases, recruiting new members.
Lifelong Belle Center resident Greg Fitpztrick has helped to organize the Independence Day celebration since its inception. He said July 4th fireworks took place in the village when he was growing up, but they were discontinued for a time, prior to the fireworks being brought back by the village council in 1982.
“We don’t want to see the fireworks die out,” Fitzpatrick said of himself and fellow committee members. “This is my community and I love this community.
“After the fireworks finale has concluded and the crowd starts cheering, you truly feel like a rock star.”
Fitzpatrick’s daughter, Heather Fitzpatrick, is one of the several dozen fireworks committee members as well.
“It’s a special thing to be a part of,” she said. “I grew up doing it since my dad was in charge of it, and it’s great to be able to keep it going for so long.”
In the initial years, the Belle Center Fire Department staff was charged with setting off the fireworks, Fitzpatrick, also a previous firefighter for the department, said they quickly learned they needed other volunteers to be involved as well.
“We had a fire to respond to on July 4th, and I was left thinking, ‘How am I going to handle this display all by myself,” he said with a chuckle.
With additional community members stepping up, Richland Township Fire Department staff are still represented on the committee.
A Logan County Sheriff’s Office retiree who began a new venture as a Logan County Commissioner this year, Fitzpatrick previously was in charge of the fireworks display. Now for the past several years, this important job has been handed off to Anthony Elsasser — a licensed pyrotechnician who previously trained alongside Fitzpatrick.
Elsasser said the big show, which begins at dark Friday at the Richland Township Park, is a 2,000-shot show and a 2,000-shot finale that is expected to last about 25 minutes.
The fireworks once again were purchased from Hamburg Fireworks LLC Inc., with the committee spending $30,000 on the fireworks this year, compared to the same amount of fireworks that cost approximately $27,000 last year, Elsasser noted.
Community donations, an annual reverse raffle, and other fundraisers help to generate these funds, and the committee saves money by having the local pyrotechnician set up the display instead of hiring out this task.
“The pyrotechnician license costs us money each year, but we’re still able to see a big savings that way,” explained Fitzpatrick.
“The community has been so good to us, and the fireworks are able to happen each year thanks to their tremendous generosity and support,” he said, also voicing his gratitude for the fireworks display being voted Best in Logan County multiple times in the Logan County Visitors Bureau’s annual contest.
In addition to the booming fanfare to end the night, a variety of activities take place throughout the day Friday in the village, kicking off with a pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. served by the American Legion Auxiliary at the Veterans Memorial building. (See sidebar for the complete schedule).
The parade begins at noon and this year’s grand marshals are are represented by the 1974 BMRT squad members, including the first chief Jim Day, along with Lois Day, Nancy Millisor, Rick White, Patty White, Dolores Fultz and Ron Smith.
War Wrestling also returns for the 15th year, featuring professional wrestlers from Indiana, Michigan and other locales from 6 to 8 p.m., organizer Corey Grant said.
Another dedicated volunteer, Joe Matthews, said a variety of kids games and 15 food trucks are part of the line-up this year.
During the Independence Day Celebration, committee volunteers wearing “Event Staff” T-shirts will have containers to collect fireworks funds from anyone who would like to donate.
For those wanting to contribute after the fireworks, donations can be mailed to: Belle Center Fireworks, P.O. Box 513, Belle Center, 43310; make check donations to “Belle Center Fireworks.”
Belle Center Independence Day
Friday, July 4
• 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. — American Legion Auxiliary’s pancake breakfast at the Veterans Memorial Building
• 11 a.m. — Parade line up at Richland Township Park on School Street
• Noon — Parade begins
• 3 p.m. — Kids pedal tractor pull
• 4 to 8 p.m. — DJ and karaoke with Chris at the Shelter “House”, with karaoke contest for ages 13 and older, register by 5 p.m., contest starts at 5:30 p.m., prizes for first, second, third place
• 6 to 8 p.m. — War Wrestling
• Fireworks at dark.
No golf carts in the park, designed motorcycle parking available.
Concessions and games offered all day, take a chair or blanket and enjoy the festivities.
