Fireworks Shows Set For June 25 At Park, July 3 At Golf Course

By ERIC X. VICCARO

eviccaro@stegenherald.com

Independence Day fireworks show will be rather early – set for this Friday at dusk at Pere Marquette Park.

According to sunset tables, dusk will take place at 8:26 p.m. this Friday with the last light at 8:58 p.m. – so expect the fireworks show to begin sometime in between.

“It will be good to get the community back together for this,” said Ste. Genevieve field operations supervisor Gary Roth. “Everyone enjoys the show. It will be good to see everybody out again. It’s going to be a big show.”

J&M Displays, from Jefferson County, will provide the show. They are one of the nation’s largest suppliers of fireworks. The company specializes in displays for holidays, fairs, festivals, concerts, and even weddings.

Roth, who took over the fireworks program from the Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce several years ago, reported the show will last 30 minutes. The event is not connected with the city of Ste. Genevieve.

There’s a possibility food trucks will be on site. Kona Ice will provide summertime refreshments.

The Ste. Genevieve Parks and Recreation Board also will operate a small concession stand offering light refreshments and snacks.

Roth has budgeted $18,000 for the show, of which $10,000 has been donated by the Mississippi Lime Company. Donations are still welcome.

Before the fireworks begin, the Ste. Genevieve Municipal Band will perform from 7-8:30 p.m. at Yanks Field.

“It’s a great relief to be able to perform,” said municipal band president Jimmy Donze. “We are glad to be performing, and we are looking forward to it.”

There was no traditional fireworks show in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

“We will be performing all of the patriotic-themed selections,” Donze added.

The playlist features, “America, the Beautiful,” “Yankee Fanfare,” “National Emblem,” “God Bless the U.S.A.,” “Liberty Bell,” and the closing number, “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Musicians will be placed between second and third base at Yanks Field, positioned looking toward the third-base line.

Since the group is performing for the fireworks show, the customary Thursday summer show will not take place this week.

July 3 show

There also will be a Fourth of July Celebration on Saturday, July 3, at the Ste. Genevieve Golf Club in rural Zell.

The show, “Eat, Drink and be Patriotic,” will begin at 6 p.m. with a full dinner. The band Saints ‘Til Friday will perform from 7-10 p.m.

Saints ‘Til Friday features Ste. Genevieve High School boys’ golf coach and district employee Ryan Mueller on drums plus vocalist Abby Fischer, Elliott Kemper on lead guitar, Jacob Papin rhythm guitar and Dustin Puckett bass.

“We had a show last year,” said Ste. Genevieve Golf Club general manager Chad Schilli. However, attendance was down due to the pandemic.

Robert Eisenbeis is in charge of the fireworks presentation, with the help of other residents in the Zell housing subdivision chipping in donations.

The dinner will feature pork steak, bratwurst, hot dogs, cole slaw and potato chips, with adult plates $10 each and children $5. No outside food and drink will be allowed on the course.

The fireworks will begin at roughly 8:30 p.m.

The course will be open that day for normal, public play.