Centerton firework ordinance extension helping local businesses

CENTERTON, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — One city in Northwest Arkansas is giving people more time to shoot off their fireworks after last night’s storms left many events canceled or postponed.

“The fourth is a day that we would typically celebrate, and unfortunately, we’ve had rain during the prime time to do this,” Centerton Mayor Bill Edwards said.

Edwards said with lightning in the sky, and people outside trying to set off fireworks, safety was a primary concern.

“There’s a lot of lightning in the area too and we didn’t want folks to get injured with lightning,” Edwards said.

Residents were left questioning when and if they would be able to set off their fireworks, and Mayor Edwards had the same question, warranting him to extend the fireworks deadline until Friday, July 5th, at 11 p.m.

One brick-and-mortar firework store in Centerton said now that the extension has taken effect, they’re expecting another day to make big sales.

“This year due to the weather, we were already prepping to be open today, but it’s just going to be that much more busy. We have a lot of selections, still a lot of products, and we’re ready for everyone to come in and enjoy an extra day of fireworks,” Blake Almond, who works at Jake’s Fireworks in Centerton, said.

Almond said even with the storms Thursday night, people kept showing up to the store to buy more fireworks, so he’s expecting to see a larger-than-usual crowd today.

“We heard fireworks going off everywhere, but with the news of the extension, people came back in. They were soaking wet, but they were coming in to buy more fireworks, and we were just continuing to sell all night long,” Almond said.

Almond also said the extension will also allow his family to enjoy some fireworks for the first time in a while.

“With the extension, we should have plenty of time to shoot them off tonight, which would be the first time in a long time [that] we got to do that,” Almond said.

Mayor Edwards says that is exactly the experience he hoped to create with the extension.

“I hope they would, you know, enjoy fellowship with their friends and neighbors. You know, have the cookouts that you would traditionally have on the fourth and the fellowship. Have a good time. Shoot fireworks. Celebrate Independence Day,” Edwards said.

Edwards also shared that the community will still hold its “Fourth Fest” Friday at Centerton’s First Baptist Church. The event is free, and gates will open at 7 p.m.

Anyone setting off fireworks is asked to respect the 11 p.m. deadline.

Multiple other cities across Northwest Arkansas have amended firework ordinances as well. In Fayetteville, you can light fireworks until 11 p.m. In Springdale, until 10 p.m.

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