The 2022 Hillsboro Community Civic Club’s July Fourth Celebration drew what may have been a record crowd, an event organizer said.
“Despite the heat, I would say we had about 3,000 attendees either on the grounds or from the parking lot,” said Tina Shulack, the club’s event chair. “We heard there were a lot of people watching the fireworks from parking lots of local businesses.”
In addition to the fireworks display that started at dusk, the event, which was held Monday, July 4, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro, included a parachute toss, with winners in both children and adult divisions receiving prizes.
Gladiator Pyrotechnics of Poplar Bluff put on the fireworks show, which cost the Civic Club about $10,000, she said.
“It was our biggest show ever,” Shulack said. “I thought it went really well.”
There was no cost to attend the fireworks show. Concessions were sold, and attendees were allowed to bring in their own coolers.
Shulack said the Civic Club raises money during the year to pay for the annual July Fourth event, as well as other events held throughout the year.
“We consider it a gift to the community,” she said.
Shulack said planning for the 2023 July Fourth Celebration will begin soon.
“We want to make sure we lock in our fireworks company because there’s a lot of competition for them.”