Starkville’s parks and recreation department will again host its annual Independence Day Celebration on Wednesday at the Sportsplex on Lynn Lane.
The celebration will begin at 5 p.m., with six bounce houses for children and room available to play with frisbees, soccer balls, footballs and more. A fireworks show, put on by Pyro Shows, is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. The event will also feature several musical performances.
This year’s event will feature several food vendors, and Starkville Community Church will be providing free water while supplies last. There will also be face painting for children, for $5.
Mayor Lynn Spruill said she’s looking forward to this year’s celebration, and invited the public to take part.
“Our Fourth of July celebration is fabulous,” she said. “It keeps getting bigger and better. Our fireworks displays are getting bigger, and with the community getting more engaged, I think it becomes that much more of a family event. I’m really excited about it and I’m hoping that each year it will continue to grow.”
The next day in Columbus, Magnolia Motor Speedway, located at 495 US-45 in Columbus, will host a fireworks show after a race that is part of the Super Dirt series.
The program at the track will feature the COMP Cams Super Late Models and Durrence Layne Late Models, Street Stocks, Factory Stocks and Late Model Sportsman.
The pit gate will open at 3:00 p.m., with grandstands opening at 5:00 p.m. and the race scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday pit admission for adults is $35 with kids (6-10 years of age) $25, and kids 5 and under are free with an adult. Thursday grandstand admission for adults is $15, while kids 10 and under are free with an adult.
Speedzone parking will be an additional $15 per car, plus the purchase of grandstand passes.
For more information, please call the track at 662-240-3478 or visit online at www.MagnoliaDirt.com.
Fireworks ordinances
Setting off fireworks is not permitted in the city of Columbus, said Columbus Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Duane Hughes. Individuals wanting to shoot off their own fireworks must do so outside the city limits.
The same goes for fireworks in Starkville. While City Attorney Chris Latimer said the city’s municipal codes don’t expressly mention fireworks, he said the city has adopted the 2012 International Fire Code. That code prohibits the possession, storage, sale or manufacture of fireworks within the city.
Starkville Fire Department Fire Marshal Stein McMullen said the department generally asks people who are using fireworks in the city to go into the county and shoot them. Failing that, the fireworks can be confiscated.
Dispatch reporters Hannah Greco, Alex Holloway and Mary Pollitz contributed to this report.
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