SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – Many are excited to celebrate America’s birthday this week with pool parties, cookouts and fireworks planned all across the Upstate.
Authorities are reminding everyone with safety tips, leading up to the 4th of July.
Americans will watch a dazzling display of fireworks light up the night sky in celebration of 249 years of American independence.
Authorities said every year, 4th of July celebrations attract large crowds as people dawn their best red, white and blue attire.
“Red, white and Boom brings out a lot of people. And so, people get an opportunity to come downtown, come and enjoy it,” Major Art Littlejohn with the Spartanburg Police said.
This year, the City of Spartanburg partnered with the Hub City Spartanburgers to hold the annual Red, White and Boom Independence Day Festival at Fifth Third Park.
“Instead of shooting your own fireworks, spending that money that you don’t need to spend, come and enjoy a free event at Fifth Third Park,” Littlejohn said.
Littlejohn said officers will be stationed in and around the park, making sure it remains a safe environment.
“Some of the safety things we think about is, of course, driving under the influence,” Littlejohn said. “That not only includes alcohol, but also the drugs as well. We’ll have officers out during that time, making sure that our streets are safe. That is very important that people plan ahead.”
Shooting off fireworks in the city limits of Spartanburg is illegal and Littlejohn said it can also be very dangerous.
“We want to get this message out each and every year, because there’s always going to be someone who decides to shoot fireworks inside of city limits,” Littlejohn said.
If you do set off your own fireworks, make sure to do so safely.
“Fingers and hands that’s probably the number one injury that happens,” Littlejohn said. “The next one would be your head or your face and your eyes and then your lower extremities. But typically, what we see at the hospital is people trying to hold them, trying to hold them too long.”
The fireworks show at Fifth Third Park starts at 9:15 p.m. on July 4, and is free to attend.
