Two summertime holiday traditions at Indian Lake — the Fireworks Spectacular Show for Independence Day and the Ring of Fire on Labor Day weekend — are gearing up for potentially their biggest year yet, with new and crowd-pleasing offerings at both events, representatives from the Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce report.
For this year’s Fireworks Spectacular show, presented at 10 p.m. Saturday, July 3, the chamber announces that the fireworks will be produced by Pyrotecnico Company of Pennsylvania, which also has produced Columbus’ Red, White and Boom for a number of years and the NFL’s Super Bowl Show, along with a myriad of other fireworks shows and special events and concerts around the country.
Founded in 1889, the company has garnered international awards and the Gold Jupiter Award for its unique choreography and precise synchronicity.
“We’ve spent numerous hours, weeks and months searching for a show that is going to make everyone have that, ‘Wow’ experience. We’re thrilled to be able to present the biggest fireworks show for Logan County this year with the help of Pyrotechnico,” Indian Lake Chamber President Amber Fagan said.
“For more than 125 years, this company has been bringing both small and large communities together through an unforgettable experience…We are extremely proud and excited to see what they have in store for us, as we can assure you that this year’s show will be even more spectacular than the rest.”
Similar to the 2020 fireworks, the launch site for this year’s show will also be the south bank between Township Road 239 and Paradise Island near Indian Head Roadhouse.
Fagan said this year’s show will feature larger fireworks shells, so the show can be viewed from a much wider range around the lake. Throughout the evening, Indian Lake State Park employees, county law enforcement, local fire, and EMS will be on hand to keep the Fireworks Spectacular safe and enjoyable.
RV Wholesalers is sponsoring this Indian Lake Fireworks Spectacular, and additional donations are being sough through the Indian Lake Chamber’s website to reach a $60,000 goal at www.visitindianlakeohio.com.
Earlier in the day on Saturday, July 3, Independence Day festivities return to Old Field Beach after being canceled last year because of COVID-19 precautions.
Beginning at 10 a.m., the annual car show, food, swimming, games and more will be offered on the beach. Registration for the car show is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with awards at 3 p.m. Registration is $10 and dash plaques will be awarded to the first 50 participants. Door prizes will also be provided.
Wrapping up summertime and marking the beginning of autumn, the annual Ring of Fire tradition returns to Indian Lake at 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, with a new twist this year. Fagan explained that the chamber has ordered 8,000 battery-powered LED flares to help light up the night and are safer for the environment, instead of using the traditional, combustible flares that can leave chemical residue on shoreline.
To make the Ring of Fire, volunteers and homeowners will line the 5,800-acre lake. The LED flares will be available at Indian Lake area businesses and the chamber office about three weeks before the event.
Continuing with the fireworks trend this year, fireworks are planned for the Sept. 5 Ring of Fire evening as well for the first time, the chamber president said.
In addition, the Grimes experimental plane out of Urbana, lit up with a multitude of lights, will fly over Indian Lake about 8:30 p.m.
Bud’s Marine and Spend-A-Day Marina are helping to sponsor this year’s Ring of Fire.
The idea for the event originated in 1965, when Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce board member A.M. Brown, Amusement Park manager, presented the idea for a “Red Flare Spectactular” to Warren Edwards, president of the chamber at the time.
Brown brought this idea from Buckeye Lake State Park where he had been park manager. The custom originated many years ago at Seneca Lake in New York State by the Seneca Indians when they celebrated a successful harvest by lighting bonfires on the shores of the lake.
He suggested that the chamber sell the flares to the residents and visitors of the lake. The chamber members agreed to sponsor the project and the annual “Red Flare Spectacular” started at Indian Lake during Labor Day weekend.
The chamber also will offer sponsorships of a cases of flares that could represent your business, yourself or the memory of a loved one. Visit the chamber’s website for more details.