By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Residents in Great Bend will have a few chances to watch fireworks this Independence Day weekend. The city of Great Bend will present its fireworks display on Wednesday, July 3 at the Great Bend Expo Complex west of town. Associate Pastor Jake Newman said Encounter Church, 601 S. Patton Road, will host its fourth annual All-American Celebration on Sunday, July 7.
"We were going to do it the same night the city is doing their fireworks," he said. "We were going to do it on the third. The guy who does our display couldn't do it that day, so we just pushed it back."
The All-American Celebration continues to grow. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will feature free bounce houses, hot dogs, and face painting. The celebration will also include a cornhole tournament that teams may enter for $20. Newman estimated between 500 and 600 people attended the 2022 version, which grew even larger last summer.
"I think last year we had about 700 people," he said. "It's just continuing to get bigger and bigger. It's a great thing being able to do something for the community where the people come out, have a good time, and just kick back and relax."
Addison Baxter handles the fireworks displays for the celebration. The fireworks show is set to begin after dark.