GILMER, Texas — East Texans have been preparing for their big Fourth of July celebrations and that includes the East Texas Yamboree Fireworks Show.
“A lot of “oooo’s” and “ahhhh’s” and “wooooow’s," Air Force veteran Jody Pearson said.
That’s the reaction organizers hope people will be saying at this years East Texas Yamboree Fireworks show on Wednesday night. Pearson said his job at this years event is to play good music and have a great celebration.
This is the twenty-third year for this event and Randy Hill, Yamboree Fireworks show coordinator, says it takes a year to prepare for the fireworks and air show.
"After that first show we discovered that it was bringing the community together and something that the community enjoyed," Hill said.
This all started when a group from Kilgore came to the East Texas Yamboree Association looking to sponsor something for kids to do during the summer.
"And we’ve done it annually ever since and I’ve been the coordinator for it for 23 years now," Hill said.
Organizers spent the day setting up the stage to announce the reigning Yamboree Queen, along with tents for popcorn and drinks and a live DJ for the fireworks and air show tonight.
"Our airshow is very good, its dedicated to the men and women of the military, our police officers, our EMS, our Sheriff's, everyone that's out there. It's a great time to be celebrating all of our freedoms and everything else that we have going on," Pearson said.
The gates will be open at 7:30 p.m. and it is free to everyone. The air show will start flying in at 8:30 p.m. followed by the firework show at 9 p.m.