Although the annual July New Concord Fireman’s Festival took place in a limited fashion, it was still successful.
Troy Cole, the Assistant Fire Chief of the New Concord Fire Department, was thrilled with how the event turned out given the circumstances posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
New Concord Assistant Fire Chief Troy Cole recaps the Fireman’s Festival during the July 13, 2020 New Concord Village Council Meeting.
“Friday night and the fireworks went really, really well,” said Cole.
The Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department made sure that the NCFD followed coronavirus guidelines to ensure the local community’s safety for the one-day event.
“The health department did come in and check everything we did. They checked the boy scouts, 4-H. Everybody was doing everything right that night. They approved our little hand wash stations. They liked our signage. Everything went well and no major issues from that,” said Cole.
The John Glenn High School Track team sold drinks, Creative Farm Kids 4-H Club sold popcorn and snow cones, and Boy Scouts sold homemade ice cream to those who attended the festival.
Along with food and refreshments, Cambridge native singer and songwriter Adam Calvert performed before the fireworks at 8 p.m.
New Concord Fireman’s Festival Fireworks July 10, 2020. Photo Credit: Marty Kurtz
The NCFD did not have to spend any money to put on the fireworks show.
“This year’s fireworks [were] 100 percent funded by donations. We didn’t end up spending any money. And we’ve also reached out now to the [New Concord Area] Board of Trade to look at some kind of partnership…to come up with a fund for those every year,” said Cole.
The money raised from the festival helps the NCFD maintain and purchase new equipment for the fire department.
New Concord Mayor Jennifer Lyle echoed positive sentiments about the festival and fireworks show during the July New Concord Village Council meeting. “Thanks go to the fire department and the fire association for everything they do…and especially this year under difficult circumstances….I thought the fireworks were incredible,” said Lyle.
The fireworks show presented at the New Concord Fireman’s Festival was the second-largest display in Southeast Ohio put on by the vendor.
Listen to the July New Concord Village Council meeting on WMCO 90.7 for more information from this year’s festival. The meeting airs Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at noon and 10 p.m. through Aug. 9.
