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City celebrates Fourth of July with Covelli Centre fireworks show
Covelli Centre Fireworks
Gallery
YOUNGSTOWN
The first fireworks burst above the city’s skyline in golden swirls, punctuated by pops of bright greens and purples and pinks.
Kids gasped and exclaimed in excitement.
Photo Gallery: Covelli Centre Fireworks
Couples, families and groups of friends sat on blankets and chairs in the grass. Many others lined the city’s downtown streets, or watched from parked cars.
Hundreds were there to see the city’s Fourth of July fireworks show at the Covelli Centre, which took place at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Among the onlookers were Eli Alexander, his fiancee Jessica Matyi, and their daughter, Abigail Gordon, of Austintown. Set up on a lawn next the Covelli Centre, Abigail and a friend twirled sparklers before the fireworks show began.
“I love fireworks,” declared the 13-year-old. The family has been to the city’s fireworks show several times before, and Abigail said she loves “everything” about it, especially “the sound that makes your heart pound.”
“I’m never disappointed,” she said.
“It’s pretty good. And you get a good front-row seat wherever you sit,” said Alexander.
Also downtown to watch the show was Deedee Foster of Youngstown, who came with her kids, mother, boyfriend, sister, and sister’s boyfriend. The family posed for pictures near the Covelli Centre.
Foster said they enjoy the event because of “all the people and the fireworks” and because they “just like to have a good time.”
Mary Jo Shuster said previous downtown fireworks shows were the best she’s ever seen.
“I love that they do this,” she said.
Shuster, who worked downtown for many years, said she also loves to see how the area has improved in recent years.
“Anything they do downtown is good,” she said.
Downtown was crowded for the event. City police blocked off parts of Front Street, where the Covelli Centre is located, and cars packed the Market Street bridge and other nearby streets. Onlookers lined the entire length of Front Street, parking lots near the Covelli Centre were packed with cars, and the lawn areas near the Covelli Centre had crowds.
A few people said they hoped for higher attendance at the event in the future.
“People should come, because it’s a lot of fun,” said Shuster.