The Fourth of July fireworks display at dusk that Wednesday in Hopkins will be a special one this year.
The Gun Lake Casino, unable to have its annual display this year because of construction of a new parking ramp at its facility, will provide the show, estimated by Gun Lake Tribe spokesman James Nye at a value of $35,000.
Fireworks will be launched behind the home stands at the football field, across the street from the high school off Clark Street.
Village President Mary Howard said Hopkins usually pays about $3,000 annually for fireworks, so she anticipates this show, about 20 minutes long and set to music, to be “unprecedented.”
She added that village officials are working with Allegan County emergency management staff to handle potential traffic and safety issues. The Hopkins public school district is opening all parking lots for the event, but lots behind the middle and high schools on Clark Street and south of the elementary school on Water Street will not be available until after the parade, between 6 and 6:30 p.m.
Perhaps the best views will be from the visitors’ stands and grassy areas alongside the football field and track. However, football, baseball and softball fields will be off limits.
The day Wednesday will get under way with a free breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. at the village park, corner of Main and Clark streets. A non-denominational worship service will be held from 9 to 10:30.
Activities planned throughout the day include food concessions, a petting zoo, inflatable bounce houses, Cow Pattie bingo, an antique tractor display, and the FFA silent auction, which ends at 8 p.m.
Other activities will include a cookie baking contest, patriotic baby picture contest and a kids’ tractor pull.
A cookie judging competition will begin at noon and family and carnival games will be offered from noon to 3:30 p.m. A children’s parade will step off at 4 p.m. and the main parade will start an hour afterward, with lineup behind the high school and middle school complex.
The annual Miss Hopkins pageant will take place at 7 p.m. to lead up to the fireworks.