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By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The city of Pelham will soon present another iteration of its annual Fire on the Water celebration in what has become its largest yearly cooperation with Oak Mountain State Park on Wednesday, July 3.

Unlike many other municipal Independence Day celebrations, Fire on the Water is an event that invites the public to a full and fun-filled day on the beach that concludes with one of the county’s largest firework shows.

In the leadup to the fireworks display—scheduled to begin promptly at 9 p.m.—visitors to the park will be able to enjoy a variety of different foods and beverages from a long list of vendors that will pair nicely with the abundant amount of activities planned for guests until the show begins in force.

“We have beach volleyball, the Treetop Nature Trail, a playground, basketball courts and fishing piers in the show’s vicinity for you to enjoy all day,” an announcement from Oak Mountain State Park read. “You can bring your own chairs and blankets for viewing the show, and you will be allowed to bring in your own coolers if you choose. Just remember—no alcohol is allowed.”

As in past years, Flip Side Watersports will once again feature as a mainstay of entertainment with what is promised to be another display of jaw-dropping wakeboarding entertainment set to begin at 5 p.m.

Picnic tables and grills will also be openly available throughout the event area and will be open on a first-come, first-served basis to all guests.

While visitors to the park will have all day to enter the grounds, guests are heavily encouraged to plan ahead and arrive early as both entry gates to the park will close to the public at 7 p.m. in order to ensure the safety of all visitors leading up to the fireworks show.

Exceptions will be made for OMSP Campground guests and cabin guests, who will be let in and out of the park through the back gate after 7 p.m. if they need to exit the park.

Annual passes for entry are valid for passholders from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Those who are not annual pass holders must pay the regular entry price fee to Oak Mountain State Park until 5 p.m.

However, from 5-7 p.m., Pelham residents will receive a special rate of entry at just $10 per vehicle upon showing proof of Pelham residency. Non-Pelham residents must pay a fee of $15 per vehicle. Carpooling to the event is encouraged, and both gates at OMSP will take cash and card payments.

Planning for the event has also resulted in the closure and alternative usage of a number of park areas, including:

• The Marina on Terrace Drive will be closed all day in preparation for the show. Those wishing to rent a kayak, canoe or SUP can do so with Flip Side Watersports all day on Beaver Lake
•  All boat launches on Double Oak Lake will be closed and those seeking to utilizing their own kayak, canoe or SUP to the park will need to utilize Lunker Lake or Beaver Lake at the north end of the park. Both of those lakes will be open to private vessels
•  Trails leading to the dam, such as the Lake Trail on Double Oak Lake, will be closed all day on July 3, so guests are asked not to plan on hiking or biking the Lake Trail.

It has also been announced that the Pelham Police and Fire Department, Park Rangers and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Game Wardens will be on site for the event to provide for and ensure public safety throughout the duration of the event.