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Photo by Erin Nelson.
Fireworks light up the night sky over Vulcan Park during the annual Thunder on the Mountain fireworks display in July 2021.
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Photos by Erin Nelson.
Dozens of people line 18th Street South in downtown Homewood ahead of Thunder on the Mountain fireworks display during Homewood’s 2021 Fourth of July celebration.
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Photos by Erin Nelson.
Fireworks light up the night sky over Vulcan Park.
It’s almost time for summer’s biggest holiday. What better way to celebrate than enjoying one of the many events happening in and around the area?
There are several Independence Day events taking place around the metro Birmingham area that begin as early as July 1, so there are a variety of options from which to choose.
Thunder on the Mountain
While the city of Mountain Brook doesn’t have any specific Independence Day events, Mountain Brook’s close proximity to Vulcan provides residents with one of the biggest fireworks shows around, Thunder on the Mountain.
The show will be put on by the Vulcan Park & Museum at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4.
The 20-minute fireworks show will be handled by Pyro Shows of Alabama and shot from the base of the Vulcan statue, allowing for easy viewing from both sides of Red Mountain.
The official soundtrack for the show will be simulcast on all iHeart Media Birmingham radio stations, including Magic 96.5, News Radio 105.5 WERC, 103.7 The Q, 102.5 The Bull and La Jefa 98.3.
Pyro Shows of Alabama begins designing the show about six months in advance, and it usually takes three days for about 10 people to set the show up at Vulcan Park & Museum, said Marvin Jones, the company’s show director.
It takes about 15 people six or seven hours to clean up afterward, he said. “We’re there til 3 or 4 in the morning,” Jones said.
The show will feature some of the traditional favorites such as happy faces and hearts, but Pyro Shows of Alabama always tries to do something different each year and works to meet special requests of the sponsors, Jones said.
This year’s sponsors of Thunder on the Mountain include the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, city of Homewood and city of Birmingham.
Homewood
The city of Homewood and Homewood Parks and Recreation Board are having an Independence Day celebration on Tuesday, July 4, in downtown Homewood at 5 p.m.
Two blocks of 18th Street South and one block of 29th Avenue South will be blocked for pedestrian traffic, rides and inflatables designed to appeal to all ages of children. A disc jockey will provide music and interactive activities for attendees.
There is no admission charge to enter the area, but the rides and other attractions require a wristband that can be purchased for $10. The wristbands will be sold in a tent near the intersection of 18th Street South and 29th Avenue South. All money raised from the event goes to the Homewood High School band.
All activities will end when the Thunder on the Mountain fireworks display begins at Vulcan Park at 9 p.m.
Chelseafest and The Big Kaboom
About 15 miles down U.S. 280 West, Chelsea’s city-wide annual celebration will be held on Saturday, July 1. The city’s largest event of the year usually draws crowds of over 7,000 attendees.
The event kicks off at 6 p.m. with the Yankee Doodle Dandy Children’s Parade, in which children are encouraged to decorate their bikes, tricycles, scooters and wagons and trek the route beginning at Chelsea Corners Way and Chelsea Road.
Around 25 food trucks will be on-site serving meals, sweets and treats. There will be tents, tables and chairs near the food truck area, or guests can bring their own blankets and choose a spot to eat and watch the fireworks at the end of the evening.
A Family Zone area provided by local churches will include inflatables, face painting, games and more. Vendor Alley will be set up with local vendors, churches and businesses.
Live music on the main stage will be provided by Fake News and The Park Band before the fireworks kick off at 9 p.m. The fireworks’ synchronized music will not only play at the main event but also will be simulcast by radio station KOOL 96.9.
Public parking will be in the field behind the event area as well as behind Winn Dixie, and handicap parking will be provided behind the stage.
There is no cost to attend the event and details can be found at chelseafest.com.
Fire on the Water
It’s only a 20-mile trip from Mountain Brook to Oak Mountain State Park. On Monday, July 3, OMSP will host Fire on the Water, the city of Pelham’s annual fireworks show.
Beginning at 5 p.m. Flip Side Watersports will present some of the top wakeboarders in the nation. Music will be provided by DJ Blaze Entertainment during the event. Food and beverage vendors will be on-site and begin serving at 5 p.m. Guests can bring their own chairs and blankets for viewing the show and are allowed to bring in their own coolers (no outside alcohol is allowed). Picnic tables are available throughout the event area, and grills are scattered throughout the park that are open to the public.
Annual park passes are valid on July 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For non-passholders, regular entrance fees apply until 5 p.m. From 5 to 7 p.m. Pelham residents only will receive a special rate of $10 per vehicle by showing proof of residency. All other attendees will receive a rate of $15 per vehicle. Both entrances into the park will take cash and card payments.
Gates into the park will close to the public at 7 p.m. to ensure the safety of all visitors leading up to the fireworks show. Campground and cabin guests will be let in and out of the park through the back gate after 7 p.m.
Guests are invited to spend the day exploring the park before the events begin.
The Alabama Wildlife Center will host Bald Eagle Talks throughout the day, and the Oak Mountain Interpretive Center will have "Teacher Creatures" sessions at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. where guests can get up close and personal with slithery and scaly friends.
Other activities in the park include beach volleyball, the Treetop Nature Trail, playgrounds, basketball courts and fishing piers.
More information is available on the Fire on the Water Facebook event page.
Hoover
The city of Hoover has a 15-minute fireworks show scheduled for 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 2, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. The fireworks will be shot by Pyro Shows of Alabama from the lower Hoover Met parking lot by the soccer fields.
Music will be broadcast on 87.9 FM.
Located in the Green Valley community, Hoover Country Club has a fireworks show scheduled for shortly after dark (roughly 9 p.m.) on Monday, July 3.
It’s a private show designed for club members and their guests, but people frequently gather on surrounding streets and at Star Lake, a small public park, to view it. The show, handled by Pyro Shows of Alabama, will be shot from the golf course driving range behind the clubhouse and usually lasts 10-15 minutes, said Kia Macon, director of special events for the club.
The club will have other activities for club members and their guests that day, with wristbands required to enter the premises, Macon said.
Helena
The city of Helena has its fireworks show planned for 9 p.m. on Monday, July 3. The fireworks will be shot by Pyro Shows of Alabama from Helena High School, but people are encouraged to gather in Old Town Helena for the Old Town Live celebration and concert at the Old Town amphitheater.
Food and arts and crafts vendors should be set up by 5 or 6 p.m. in the Old Town district. There will be a free concert by Telluride and the winner of Helena’s 2023 Battle of the Bands competition.
Parking will be available in several places along Main Street and at the Helena Sports Complex at 110 Sports Complex Drive, with a shuttle going back and forth between the sports complex and Old Town district.
