While surrounding cities and towns have cancelled and cast doubt on firework shows next month, one Wasatch County city is full steam ahead.
Midway has a big weekend planned to celebrate Independence Day, including a fireworks show that will be hard to come by elsewhere.
Brad Wilson is the Midway city recorder. He says Midway’s plan is unlikely to change.
“We fully anticipate that we’ll have fireworks, and that’ll be on July 3,” Wilson said.
The fireworks will cap off events Friday and Saturday to commemorate the July Fourth holiday on Sunday.
Friday, an art sale will run all afternoon at Town Hall. The next morning will begin with a cannon blast, flag-raising ceremony and breakfast.
Come nightfall, Wilson says the fireworks shot from Memorial Hill will be visible throughout much of the Heber Valley.
Because of the drought and state of emergency, many cities are considering fireworks riskier now than in typical years.
In Park City, procedure requires areas where fireworks land to be soaked with water in the days before the discharge. That was a factor in Park City’s decision to cancel its show this year.
Wilson says while he does not know the specific safety protocols in Midway, the city and fire department are working together for that night.
“We have been working with the Wasatch County Fire District, and we have for many years," he said. "They have been very generous and very gracious, and they have their crews there. Since they’re going to be on site; and they’re going to have their equipment there, and they’re going to be ready; they have authorized that we can shoot off the fireworks.”
On Wednesday, the Utah legislature decided against imposing further restrictions against fireworks.