Just about everything is in place for Emporia’s annual July 4 fireworks show.
The infrastructure is in place, and the shells — enough for a 25-to-35-minute show — will be loaded Tuesday. Longtime lead pyrotechnician Bernie Toso, KVOE’s Newsmaker guest Monday, says this will be a show unlike any other for residents.
The show will begin around dusk, with the show officially being touched off from Emporia State’s intramural fields just north of Interstate 35. Welch Stadium and tailgating areas will open at 7 pm. No alcohol or fireworks will be allowed in the special tailgating areas and no chairs, food or drink will be allowed on the Welch Stadium turf or Zola Witten track.
With the south end of Highland Street off limits due to construction, Emporia State Facilities Director Bill McKernan says handicapped-accessible parking lots will remain near the Art Annex, but traffic flow will go north on Highland instead of south to avoid the work zone. Parking near the Memorial Union will still be available, but traffic will need to use Market Street instead of Highland to get to those lots between the two streets — and then will need to use Market Street to leave campus.
