Rotary, Chamber announce plans for modified fireworks show

Fireworks will light up the Hampton night sky despite ongoing safety precautions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hampton Rotary Club and the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce on Friday, July 3 will team up to bring a modified edition of its annual fireworks show.

Dan Hanson, Hampton Rotary Club President, said in order to keep social distancing guidelines, the show will not be held in the Franklin County Fairgrounds grandstand. Instead, 4G Pyrotechnics will light off fireworks from a field west of Grandpa’s Farm, which is across the street from the main fairgrounds. People who attend the show are asked to park in the grass lots on either side of the Seabee’s Foundry building or at the campground portion of the fairgrounds.

Hanson said people are asked to remain in their vehicles during the show. Concessions and the raffle to ignite the first firework will not be offered this year.

The fireworks will begin at dusk, which is typically around 10 p.m.

While the show will lose a couple features due to social distancing guidelines, Hanson said the Rotary Club and Chamber are excited to be able to team up to bring a blast of summer joy to the area.

“It’s great to be able to celebrate the birthday of our nation, celebrate the freedoms that we have and we’re glad to be able to provide an event where we can socially distance but still enjoy something that we celebrate annually,” he said.

Hanson added that the event would not be possible without the support of the Franklin Tourism committee, as well as the continued support of sponsors and the guests each year.

“We’ve had a lot of people supporting us and we want to thank them for their support this year and in the past,” he said.