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Madison County, Ford and Jackson Symphony to host free America250 fireworks event; officials urge safety
Summary
Madison County and Ford Tennessee Truck Plant are sponsoring a free America250 Fourth of July celebration at Jackson Regional Airport with music and a roughly 20-minute fireworks display after dark; county fire officials urged attendees to prefer public shows and follow safety rules, and noted local fireworks sale/use dates.
Madison County will mark the nation's 250th anniversary with a free Fourth of July celebration at Jackson Regional Airport, sponsored in part by Ford Tennessee Truck Plant and featuring a performance by the Jackson Symphony.
"The gates open at 5:00 p.m., music begins at 6:00 p.m., and the Jackson Symphony will perform later in the evening," said Tracy King, representing the symphony. "We'll be performing American tunes from the American songbook...and we're thrilled to be able to celebrate America250 with Madison County." Maryanne Dunham, Ford community relations, said Tennessee Truck Plant (part of the Blue Oval City campus) stepped in as a sponsor to keep the tradition alive. "Ford is still very much committed to West Tennessee," Dunham said. "We will produce trucks in that plant and we're investing in the community and workforce development."
Division Chief Fire Marshal Latrell Billingsley of the Jackson Fire Department urged residents to favor collective, professionally run shows and follow basic safety practices when using consumer fireworks: adults should light devices, keep a clear yard and a water source ready, allow fireworks to cool before disposal and maintain safe viewing distances. Billingsley said the county's ordinance allows sales June 20–July 5 and use June 30–July 5; on July 4th, use is extended with permissible hours of 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., while other nights generally end at 10:00 p.m.
Organizers asked attendees to bring picnics and lawn chairs because there will be no food trucks at the airport event. Admission is free to residents of Madison County and beyond. The symphony's 38-piece orchestra will perform patriotic selections, and the fireworks display is expected to last about 20 minutes.
The event is being organized quickly after initial cancellations; Dunham said Ford and local government partners moved to preserve the long-running community tradition. "We knew it was last minute," she said, "but Tennessee Truck Plant is very much a part of this community and we wanted to be a sponsor in partnership with Madison County and the Symphony."
Officials recommended that anyone who prefers a professional display attend one of the scheduled public shows rather than using large consumer fireworks at home.
