10th annual Light the Night draws estimated 4,000

By: 
Steve Chapman

Alison Johnson, 5, and Jason Turner, 7, ride the ferris wheel at the carnival section of the Light the Night Festival. (Photo by Steve Chapman)

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce held their 10th annual Light the Night fireworks festival on Saturday, June 15. An estimated 4,000 people attended the event.
The festival began around 3 p.m. Some of the highlights included a cornhole tournament, carnival rides, a hot dog eating contest, live music by local bands The Broken Binding, Luce Cannons and Task at Hand; the culminating event was the fireworks show which took place after dark.
Many of those who came to the festival wanted to spend time with friends or family. Scott Spooner said being able to spend time with his family was what he enjoyed most about Light the Night.
“I’d say it’s just kind of a nice way to have some family time together; enjoy some rides, some snow cones, and then obviously, some fireworks,” he said.
Addie Lee, 14, brought her cousins, Malachi Henry and his sister, Makenzi, who were visiting from Hollister, to the event.
“They’ve never been down here, and it’s a really cool event, so I wanted to show (it to) them,” he said.
Justin LaNore and his girlfriend, Jasmine Lawrence, came to the festival to celebrate their one-year anniversary of dating; their first date was at last year’s festival.
 “This year, we just decided to go because it was where we had our first date,” he said.
The Aurora Fire Department, with help from the Aurora Rural Fire Protection District, played a dual role during the festival. Earlier in the day, they showed children how they wore their fire gear and used their equipment to fight fires.
“We show (kids) the truck, and we try to make it where they’re not scared of us,” said Robert Ward, Aurora fire chief. “(We tell them) that we’re one of their friends and not one of the people that are strangers.”
James Pettit, owner of Pettit Law Firm and an Aurora Chamber of Commerce member, said the Light the Night festival was a great event which benefits the Aurora community.
“This is a great opportunity for family-centered entertainment with … a wonderful firework show,” he said. “We’ve been doing this for at least 10 years … and we’ve been getting bigger and bigger every year.”
 

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Lawrence County Record

312 S. Hickory St.
Mt. Vernon, MO, 65712
www.lawrencecountyrecord.com

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