Overton County EMS will host its 16th annual fireworks show at the Overton County Fairgrounds Saturday to provide a day of celebration and appreciation for the community.
Overton County Fair Vice President Rithia Winningham said the long-standing tradition serves as a way for residents to connect with local EMS.
“It’s just a great event,” Winningham said. “It’s where everybody can come together and spend time with friends and family and show everyone on the emergency medical stuff that they are really appreciated and we appreciate them for everything that they do.”
Winningham said the community provides an outpouring of support and donations to ensure that admission, food, and entertainment remain free for all attendees. Winningham said the event features a variety of activities including a petting zoo, bounce houses, face painting, and a band playing a mixture of country and rock music.
“There is all kinds of fire trucks, ambulances, stuff from the National Guard,” Winningham said. “There’s people set up handing stuff out and we are going to have hopefully some helicopters coming in and out for the kids to see and face painting and just all kinds of stuff for everybody to enjoy.”
Winningham said Roy Gore was instrumental in starting the event. Winningham said Gore and the entire EMS staff deserve recognition from the public for their work in organizing the festivities.
“Mr. Roy Gore is our our big big person for this event,” Winningham said. “He he’s helped start this years ago and he has carried it through and he needs he needs a lot of recognition. So if you see Roy Gore out folks, give him and all the EMS a a big thank you because they deserve it.”
Winningham said the EMS team raises money throughout the entire year to fund the celebration and has already begun planning for next year’s event. Winningham said the preparation involves securing sponsorships and coordinating safety measures for the large-scale show.
“It just shows them that they care about us regardless of whether they are working with us in emergency situation or just working with us just to come out and celebrate with us and have a good time and show everybody that they care all the time, not just when they’re having to be there for them for an emergency,” Winningham said.
Winningham said the event offers refreshments such as lemonade and snow cones for families while they enjoy the live music and emergency vehicle displays. Winningham said the band has performed for the EMS show for several years and often inspires attendees to dance on the grass.
“Always tell those people how much you appreciate them and this this day is just special to all Americans,” Winningham said. “So always appreciate your veterans, all your medical people, and anyone that has anything that helps you with anything during your life, just just give them thanks for that.”
The gates for the event open at 5pm with the fireworks display scheduled to begin at dusk.