Fireworks Festival set for Saturday

Staff report

NEW CASTLE, PA.

The 21st annual Fireworks Festival will be Saturday in downtown New Castle.

Free bus-shuttle service from the parking lot of Union Plaza, on U.S. Route 224, will run from 2 to 11 p.m.

The day begins at 9 a.m. with a 5K/10K walk-run through downtown. The race begins and ends at Jameson Hospital’s South Campus on South Mercer Street.

Activities on the Columbus Innerbelt begin at 2 p.m. where there will be a children’s area with amusements, games and crafts, many of which are free or have a nominal fee. Back by popular demand is the Lego building contest at 2:30 p.m. There also will be a petting zoo and pony rides from 3 to 7 p.m. Other amusements will include euro bungee jumping, rock-wall climbing, trackless train ride, a mega-thrill obstacle course, giant slide and children’s activity tent. A $15 ride-a-rama wrist band will provide unlimited access on the $1 and $2 amusements, excluding the pony rides, from 2 to 6 p.m.

Performing on the Fireworks Capital of America main stage will be the Rich Harper Band at 2 p.m.; Tarra Layne Band, 3:30 p.m.; New Castle Playhouse Mini Stars, 5 p.m.; and Ren Capri at 6 p.m. Layne and Capri were both finalists in the 2011 Rocket to the Stars competition, which Capri won.

The 2012 Rocket to the Stars competition finale will begin at 7 p.m. Vying for the $10,000 grand prize plus a year’s worth of professional development are Christian Beck, Beaver Falls; Hunter Cook, Franklin; Shannon Davies, New Castle; Mariah Keefer, Monaca; Kiersten Kelly, Imperial; and Dawn Savage, New Brighton. Those attending should bring lawn chairs.

Additional events are the American Cancer Society Ducky Derby at 7:30 p.m. and ice-cream social at the Lawrence County Historical Society at 8 p.m.

After the day’s activities, a spectacular fireworks display at 10 p.m. will be presented by Pyrotecnico of New Castle.

For information, call the Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency at 724-654-8408, or go to FireworksCapitalofAmerica.com.