By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Another night, another huge turnout of people as Decatur celebrated the Fourth of July in a big way. A really big way!
After hundreds of folks came out at Bellmont for Adams Hospital’s presentation of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic on Monday, even larger crowds were on hand outdoors at Riverside Center and Park on Tuesday to commemorate the nation’s Declaration of Independence.
Temperatures hovered around the 80-degree mark, nearly ideal weather for such an outdoor gathering.
This year’s Fourth celebration was a little different, what with the addition of a two-hour performance by Nightrain, a Guns & Roses tribute band (photo).
Adams Post 43 of the American Legion brought the large crowd to near silence – although fireworks were booming through the area – for its annual solemn ceremonies featuring the Decatur post’s color guard and remembrance of veterans who passed during the previous 12 months.
The big party wound up, as usual, with a 21-minute fireworks show seen by thousands.
It’s a night when the Riverside Park area is jammed, but people are scattered through the city to view the fireworks, sitting at various areas: backyards and front porches, parking lots and empty grassy areas, from their vehicles as well as from areas outside the city.
The hospital, continuing to celebrate its 100th anniversary, was the chief sponsor of the fireworks – which ran up a tab of around $19,000 in total – as the Decatur Chamber of Commerce organized the annual event.
More tribute band music returns to the Madison St. Plaza on Thursday with JUMP, performing the music of Van Halen.
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