DAYTON — Nick Terbay, a Dayton Recreation Program Coordinator, is hoping the turnout for Sunday night’s Lights in Flight fireworks show in downtown Dayton trends beyond 50,000.
“We modestly tell people 50,000 for this event, but we’re thinking it’s trending in a great direction so hopefully we’ll have more than that,” Terbay told News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis after the event.
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Terbay and Visa Lee, a vendor at the Lights in Flight festival on East Monument Avenue held before the nighttime show, said the show was huge for reasons beyond simply celebrating Independence Day in 2022.
“People were so scared everybody it was so much isolation” during the pandemic prompted by covid, Lee told News Center 7′s Lewis. “Having events like this only brings more positive energy, we need these types of things here in our city so I’m grateful for it.”
The people who turned out for the daytime and nighttime activities expressed their gratitude as well.
“It’s one of the best fireworks shows probably in the Montgomery County area,” said Todd Ellis of Dayton.
Michelle, another Dayton resident, said, “I love coming out and being outside and seeing the people.”
The July 4th weekend festival featured live entertainment as well as vendors along East Monument through 10 p.m., when the pyrotechnics were to begin just off RiverScape MetroPark in the city’s downtown.
“Socialization is a part of healthy living,” Lee said, “and being able to come out to events like this and just the comaradery and to be able to share with your fellow man I think is a blessing.”
Part of that coming together was coming out in the summer heat. People were allowed to bring their own water in a reusable container and the city’s water department handed out free bottles of water as well.
Street closures cut vehicle access to RiverScape and Island MetroPark for the light show. According to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch, here are the announced street closures that remained in effect until midnight Sunday:
From 7 a.m. to midnight
* East Monument Avenue, from Water Street to Jefferson
* North St. Clair Street, from East Monument to East First Street
* Riverside Drive, from the White Allen dealership (West McPherson Street) to East Monument
* North Patterson Boulevard, from East First to Monument
* North Bend Boulevard, from East Helena Street to Webster Street
From 7 p.m. to midnight
* Helena, from Riverside to North Keowee Street.
>> FIND: Fireworks shows in your area
There will be more fireworks shows throughout the Miami Valley on Monday, July 4th.