Chelseafest and The Big Kaboom draws large crowd
Published 6:05 pm Monday, July 1, 2024
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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor
CHELSEA – The city of Chelsea saw thousands of local residents flock to the field at Chelsea Corners Way to enjoy food, fun and fireworks during this year’s installment of Chelseafest and The Big Kaboom.
The city hosted Chelseafest and The Big Kaboom on Saturday, June 29 from 6-10 p.m. ahead of the Fourth of July Holiday.
“The crowd was tremendous, maybe the biggest ever” Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer said. “It went off without a hitch, the food trucks were good and the band was great. It turned out to be overcast, about 80 degrees, at start time which is as good as it gets. It was just a terrific event.”
The event kicked off with the Yankee Doodle Dandy Children’s Parade which allowed children to decorate their bicycles, tricycles, scooters and wagons and parade down Chelsea Corners Way.
Attendees of the festival were able to enjoy a selection of food trucks and had the opportunity to explore the vendor alley which featured a selection of local vendors, churches and business for attendees to peruse.
“The weather turned out wonderful,” said Scott Weygand, city councilmember and mayor pro tempore. “(It was) the largest crowd I’ve ever seen at Chelseafest. Everything went well. Everybody seemed to have fun.”
Liberty Baptist Church and New Life Church assisted in festivities this year by leading the event’s Family Zone which will feature inflatables, face painting, games and a picture booth.
Boy Scout Troop 353 led the Pledge of Allegiance on stage during the event and Abigayle Hyche sang the National Anthem. Chaplain Eddie Burchfield with Fresh Fire Ministries led a prayer for the city, state and nation.
Headlining band Monsters of Yacht took the stage at 7 p.m. and entertained guests with a variety of tunes before the fireworks show promptly began at 9 p.m. The fireworks display featured a synchronized musical accompaniment that was also simulcasted by radio station KOOL 96.9.
“I believe this is part of why we live in a small town because we get to host events like this,” Picklesimer said. “It’s the largest event that’s sponsored by the city of Chelsea. It’s our annual get everybody out (and) get everybody together event. It means a lot to our sponsors and to our vendors to get to take part in such a large-scale event. It’s obviously celebrating the birthday of the great country ever in the history of the world. There is just so many good things about it. It’s small town America at its best.”