Attendees enjoy fireworks in Belle Center at a recent Independence Day Celebration. (EXAMINER FILE PHOTO)
A beloved community tradition returns to northern Logan County in full patriotic fanfare Tuesday, July 4, when Belle Center’s 41st annual Independence Day Celebration lights up the sky, through the efforts of more than 30 dedicated individuals in an all-volunteer committee.
Activities take place in the village throughout the day, beginning with a pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the Richland Township Fire Station and a parade at noon. (See sidebar for the complete schedule). War Wrestling also returns for the 13th year, with participants donating their time to the festival.
The fun-filled day concludes at 10 p.m. with the fireworks display at Richland Township Park, which has received the Best of Logan County’s fireworks honors for the last three years in the contest hosted by the Logan County Visitors Bureau and the Bellefontaine Examiner.
This year, the Belle Center fireworks will be a 2,000-shot show and a 2,000-shot finale. Fireworks are purchased from Hamburg Fireworks LLC Inc., said fireworks committee member Greg Fitzpatrick, who has helped to lead the festivities for the past 41 years.
“It’s the most energetic group that I’ve ever been a part of, and we all work together so well,” he said of the committee. “Among the more than 30 people, there are many couples who participate together. It’s all volunteer and no one is getting paid.
“There are folks who help with the set up, others who help the day after with clean up, and others who help with our fundraisers, and some who do a little bit of everything. It’s a big effort all around.”
A lifelong Belle Center resident, Fitzpatrick said when he was growing up in the village, there was a fireworks display each year, which coincided with the summer baseball program. While the July 4th festivities then were discontinued for a few years, the village council decided to bring it back about 41 years ago.
Fitzpatrick previously was in charge of the fireworks display, a task that this year has now been handed off to Anthony Elsasser — a licensed pyrotechnician who worked alongside Fitzpatrick in the past.
This year, the Belle Center Fireworks Committee purchased the fireworks “for well over $20,000,” Fitzpatrick said, but then is able to save funds by having the local pyrotechnician set up the display.
“The pyrotechnican license costs us money each year, but we’re still able to see a big savings that way,” said the Logan County Sheriff’s Office retiree.
“When the display began 41 years ago, it was the Belle Center Fire Department guys setting up the display and the American Legion providing the $1,500 it cost to purchase the fireworks.
“Now that the costs have grown exponentially, we ask the community to help by providing donations and by supporting fundraisers throughout the year.”
During the Independence Day Celebration, committee volunteers wearing “Event Staff” T-shirts will have containers to collect fireworks funds from anyone who would like to donate.
In the initial years, with the fire department staff charged with setting off the fireworks, Fitzpatrick, also a previous firefighter for the department, said they quickly learned they needed other volunteers to be involved as well.
“We had a fire to respond to on July 4th, and I was left thinking, ‘How am I going to handle this display all by myself,” he said with a chuckle.
With additional community members stepping up, Richland Township Fire Department staff are still represented on the committee.
Among the dedicated volunteers, Joe Matthews is in charge of the vendors for the festival. Amy Cartwright is the the chair of the reverse raffle fundraiser, which takes place each year on Memorial Day weekend.
Coming up next month as well, the Main Street Tavern, 103 W. Main St., Belle Center, hosts a Fireworks Poker Run and Hog Roast Saturday, Aug. 19. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and the first bike is out at noon, with all proceeds to the Belle Center fireworks.
For those wanting to contribute after the fireworks, donations can be mailed to: Belle Center Fireworks, P.O. Box 513, Belle Center, 43310; make check donations to “Belle Center Fireworks.”
Fitzpatrick noted that donations also can be mailed to the Richland Township Fire Department, P.O. Box 5, Belle Center, 43310.
Greg Fitzpatrick is honored in 2022 for his 40 years of service to the Belle Center Fireworks Committee. (PHOTO VIA BELLE CENTER FIREWORKS COMMITTEE)