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Fireworks draw July 4 celebrators to Solon
(by Jenna Berris - July 07, 2010)
Fireworks draw July 4 celebrators to Solon
By JENNA BERRIS
The crowds rushed into Solon Community Park at dusk Sunday evening to watch Fourth of July fireworks. Some watched the display from the playground and other surrounding areas, but most people lined the baseball field with blankets for seating.
Adam Besand, 25, of Lakewood, and Jonathan Justice, 24, of Strongsville, were among those attending. Mr. Besand grew up in Bainbridge and was in town for the weekend visiting family for the holiday.
"This is our first time here. We heard they were supposed to be very good," Mr. Besand said of the fireworks. He said he almost went to see the Bainbridge fireworks instead.
It was also Mr. Justice's first time at the Solon display. "I used to work at Six Flags, so I would drive past the fireworks," he said. "I was sad about the fact that I couldn't enjoy them when I was stuck in traffic. This year I am part of the traffic, so it's different."
The two had been at a barbeque at the home of Mr. Besand's parents.
"We played cornhole," Mr. Justic said. "It's very American, and it was even a Cleveland Browns cornhole set."
The younger crowd wandered the property looking to meet up with friends.
Hannah Sakian, 18, of Twinsburg, has attended the event for years, she said. "Sometimes we go to Aurora, but we like the people here and the food," she said. "And we get to see everyone from school."
Ms. Sakian had an eventful holiday. Earlier, she went to the beach at Mentor Headlands and to her grandparents for a barbeque, she said.
Before the main event, the national anthem was sung to honor those serving our country. As the singing ended, the lights dimmed to cue the audience that the show was about to start. As explosions of color shot up into the sky, songs like "Proud to be an American" and "Born in the U.S.A." sounded from the speakers.
People lay back on their blankets and stared at the sky, letting out the occasional "ooh" or "ahh." The display lasted about 30 minutes, but not without a finale that filled the entire sky with an array of colors.
When the lights came back on, friends and families folded their blankets and gathered their belongings.
Mr. Besand and Mr. Justice enjoyed the show, they said, but did not hesitate to head out directly after the finale.
"The fireworks were very good, but now I'm deaf," Mr. Besand said. "We (have) to get out of here before we get stuck."
Two kids who had grown restless during the show jumped up and down around their parents, who were packing up their wagon.
Jessica Leonard and Tom Dieterle, of Solon, watched the fireworks last year too. "This year was better," Mr. Dieterle said. "We came early and played in the park and had some food. It was great."
And their two children, Sophie, 5, and Jonah, 6, agreed. When asked if they had a good time, they clapped their hands and yelled, "Yay!"
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