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July 5, 2008

Delayed display still sparks delight

By Bess Warren

Storms loomed in the eastern sky, but a crescent moon and stars were visible over Love-Hatbox Sports Complex as hundreds returned to watch the Muskogee’s fireworks display, after being forced to leave Thursday because of inclement weather.

Thursday’s show was canceled for the first time when severe thunderstorms hit Muskogee. Many once disappointed spectators came back Saturday in hopes of getting to see them.

“We’re trying to watch the fireworks twice now,” Mindy Adams, 28, of Muskogee said. “We can’t shoot fireworks where we live, so we came out to watch these.”

Adams did get to watch the show, which started at 9:15 p.m. and lasted until almost 10 p.m.

Balls of bright colors and shimmering sparkles started the show as the crowd came to an almost dead silence. After the first few large blooms dazzled the sky, the crowd clapped and cheered.

“I like it when everybody goes ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’,” Rebecca Smith, 33, of Warner said.

Smith, along with her husband and best friend, brought their teenage children with them to watch the display.

“We haven’t watched fireworks in a long time. We don’t pop them because they’re too expensive,” she said.

Just like Smith, Christine Maxwell and family sat on the grass outside their van in lawn chairs and on a blanket.

“We come every year,” Maxwell, 41, of Muskogee said. “The teenagers always say there’s nothing to do, but they don’t mind coming to this. We’re doing the family thing.”

“Boosh” was how Stephen Hill, 11, of Oktaha described the artillery shells he and his family shot off Friday evening. Hill said that his favorite part about fireworks was the way they sound when they explode.

“I like the loud boom and how they blow,” he said.

Hill was hoping for a loud performance but he found the finale to be his favorite part.

“That was cool,” he said.

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