8 • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2002
Area displays provide holiday entertainment
By Todd Smith
Kansan Staff Writer
Students have plenty of options to see fireworks displays in the area this Fourth of July.
Lawrence
The Lawrence Jaycees' annual Fourth of July event will be held in Burcham Park, W. 2nd and Indiana streets, and is free to the public. The Alfred Packard Band will play bluegrass music at 7:30, and the fireworks display will begin at dusk. The display, which will last 30 to 45 minutes, would be larger than last year's display, Gary Saathoff, treasurer of the Jaycees, said.
He said the Jaycees spent $12,000 on the display, $7,000 more than last year because of better fundraising and a $4,000 contribution by the city of Lawrence.
The Lawrence Journal-World is sponsoring buses to take people from any of the downtown parking lots to Burcham Park starting at 5:45 p.m.,he said.
The Jaycees expected 3,000 to 5,000 people to come to the park and 10,000 to 15,000 people to view the fireworks from other places in town, Saathoff said.
Lake Perry
Fireworks festivities begin at noon north of Lawrence at Lake Perry and will include a boat parade, sky divers and musical entertainment. Fireworks begin after dark off the dam on the east side of the lake.
"It is 30 minutes of solid fireworks set to patriotic music with a fantastic finale," said Debby Best, co-owner of the Lake Petty Marina.
Best said the fireworks display cost
about $30,000 and about 60,000 people are expected to attend.
She said people would pay $5 for parking after 4 p.m.
Downtown Kansas City
The fireworks display at the City Market, 20 E. 5th St., will have live music by It's a Beautiful Day, featuring Dave and Linda LaFlanne, and Brody Buster. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m. Tickets cost $5 in advance and $7 at the gate. Children 10 and younger will be admitted free.
Susan Ward, administration supervisor of Shawnee County Parks and Recreation, said the cost of the fireworks was approximately $30,000.
The fireworks display at Lake Shawnee Park, 3137 S.E. 29th St., will begin at 10 p.m. and last for 25 minutes.
Over 60,000 people attended the display last year, Ward said.
The display is free to the public.
There is also an arts and crafts festival in the park July 4 to 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
Overland Park
The Overland Park fireworks display will be at Corporate Woods on College Boulevard and Indian Parkway. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. and will include music by Atlantic Express and a Kansas Guard flyover.
Topeka
The display will start at 9:40 p.m. The Overland Park Rotary Club and the city of Overland Park are sponsoring the display.
Contact Smith tsmith@kansan.com This story was copyedited by Kristin Keeney