Although Sumrall’s annual 4th of July fireworks celebration will look a little different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event is still a go, with the Sumrall Board of Aldermen recently voting to promote the town and sponsorship of fireworks at a cost of $1,000.
The show will take place at 9 p.m. July 4 at the soccer field on Mississippi Highway 42, and participants will be allowed to watch the fireworks from the parking lot of the adjacent baseball field.
“The Lions Club, with the virus being such a scare, they decided not to go ahead and combine it with the 4th of July celebration like we always do,” Mayor Heath Sumrall said. “Due to the vast number of people that would be coming in close proximity and contact with each other, they didn’t want to take any chances with that.
“Possibly, if everything has calmed down around the October time frame, they want to have a Fall Festival-type event – based on the same event that we have with the 4th of July – and just delay that a few months.”
When discussing whether to hold a fireworks show during the pandemic, the question was raised as to where it would be held to ensure that social distancing measures could be followed while getting a good view of the fireworks.
“The soccer field was introduced to that idea,” Sumrall said. “Just firing fireworks off the soccer field property out there won’t damage anything; it’ll just be a little bit of paper cleanup after the fact.
“That whole area over there on the industrial park side of town should be a very clear view of that. There’s a few people upset about the soccer field usage, but it’s not being used for anything except an area to shoot fireworks off of.”
Attendees are being encouraged to remain in their vehicles.
Sumrall said he felt the fireworks show was a must for residents, and many Lions Club members agreed with that.
“We’ve got local sponsors, like Ramey’s, the Town of Sumrall, Lamar County and some of the banks that give money for that event,” he said. “I just think it’s something that should be done.”
