Fireworks light up sky over Grand Rapids

Watch a replay of the fireworks show above.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Families packed downtown Grand Rapids parks and bridges Saturday night for the annual Fourth of July fireworks set off over the Grand River.

“That’s really my favorite part of this, is watching the little kids and the ‘oohs’ and the ‘aahs.’ And it’s fun to see the parents watching their children, as well as the grandparents that are down here, too. It’s just sort of fun to see these generations of folks that are coming together to celebrate our nation’s independence,” event organizer Russ Hines told News 8.

The 22-minute fireworks show started around 10:30 p.m., also airing live on WXSP and streaming on woodtv.com. Touting it as the “biggest show in West Michigan,” Hines said it included some 8,000 fireworks launched from the Gillett pedestrian bridge between DeVos Place and Ah-Nab-Awen Park. People cheered and clapped in excitement when it was over.

The fireworks were preceded by a party with music and food vendors at Ah-Nab-Awen Park. Things got underway at 6 p.m. with the national anthem performed by Arleigh Geerts of Allendale, followed by a DJ and then local band Funkle Jessie.

“It just brings the community together, all of these people who probably wouldn’t obviously be in the same place otherwise,” volunteer Nicholas Hines said. “It gives people something to do, kids stay out of trouble. Parents can bring their kids to an event that’s family friendly, as I said. It’s just a lot of fun overall, great vendors, and obviously with the live music going on, can’t go wrong.”

Celebration attendee Olivia Tuttle said she got to the park around 2 p.m. to save a spot with her family. She said she has been coming to the fireworks since she was little and loved them every year.

“They never let you down. The grand finale is always my favorite. But just the color, the sounds, they’re just great,” she said.

Organizers say the show takes all year to organize.

Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom said there would be more than 60 Grand Rapids police officers at the event, as well as support from the Michigan State Police, the Kent County Sheriff’s Department, the Walker Police Department and the Wyoming Police Department.

“So we don’t anticipate any issues whatsoever, but we are certainly prepared for it,” Winstrom told News 8 Saturday morning.

With the Fourth on a Thursday this year, celebrations continued into the weekend: There were also fireworks over Coldwater, Croton, Dorr and Gun Lake Saturday night.

—News 8’s Elena Cousino and Adriana Doria contributed to this report.

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