ONTARIO — Saturday’s Fourth of July festivities felt more like a tailgate, with rows of cars lining the fields of Marshall Park.
The Ontario Boom Festival, presented by Ontario Youth Sports, Mix 106.1 and the City of Ontario, consisted of food trucks, fireworks and a performance by Ashland-based country band County Line.
Attendees showed up as early as 5 p.m. to get a prime spot for viewing the fireworks show, setting up lawn chairs and picnic blankets in the grass.
Ray Chase, who never misses a chance to tailgate at an Ohio State University football game, came well-prepared with a canopy and spread of potato chips, fruit and a cooler.
Chase typically attends Ontario’s Independence Day Festival with his Lions Club chapter.
“It’s important to celebrate (our forefathers) plus it’s a good time to bring the community together for fellowship,” he said.
Maggie Heiby of Crestline and Tami Wheeler of Mansfield both said they enjoyed the socially distanced set-up.
“I kind of like it better,” Wheeler said.
“It’s not crowded, I don’t feel rushed. It’s a little bit more laid-back,” Heiby added.
The Prater family typically attends the Ontario Fourth of July festival. This year, the family has an even bigger reason to celebrate.
“It’s her first Fourth of July,” Tyler Prater said pointing to his six-month-old daughter peacefully napping in her stroller.
Richland County Juvenile Court Judge Steve McKinley spoke briefly on the history of Independence Day.
“Our founders gave us a democratic republic. As a democracy, the people are the rulers of those who govern, and as a republic, the nation is governed by law, rather than by the whim of the person in power,” McKinley said.
“There’s no such things a utopia and at times America has not lived up to its ideals. America is great not because we’re perfect, but because we’ve used the law to correct our mistakes.”
The Ontario Boom festival was organized by a committee of citizens following the cancellation of the annual Fourth of July Festival.
“We just want something for our community,” said Kenn Spencer of Ontario Youth Sports. “Who would think that we would be celebrating and excited to get back to normal?”
