HDM bringing the lighting and thunder with July 1 celebration

The daylight throughout July 1 in Historic Downtown Millersburg will be filled with kids laughing and playing, people shopping, plenty of great food and a lot of fellowship.

However, when nighttime rolls around, the skies will be filled with thunder and lightning thanks to the annual Thunder Over Holmes County celebration from 3 p.m. to when the stars come out and the fireworks ignite.

According to Judy Lamp, Historic Downtown Millersburg executive director, HDM and the Holmes County Chamber of Tourism has provided all of the financial support to put together this annual celebratory highlight, and she said it’s their way of sharing the blessing of living and serving in a wonderful community.

“We really look at this as though it’s a gift, a way of giving back to the community, and who better to give to than the kids and families,” Lamp said, noting that all of the events during this celebration are free.

Before the nighttime fireworks light up the sky as day fades into night, there will plenty of family fun, especially for the kids, but not exclusively.

The crew from Skyview Ranch will once again bring their own brand of energy and hospitality to the kids’ area, where they will be in charge of the many inflatables and games.

“That group at Skyview is special,” Lamp said of their partnership that has been blossoming for several years. “They are so full of life and energy, and they are the ones who make that kids’ area something special. They definitely bring the excitement, and they connect with the kids so well that has been a partnership that has added so much to this event. “And the fact that all of this is free to families is a huge bargain, because kids can play all day and have a blast.”

Lamp said it’s neat to see the young adult camp counselors from Skyview learning to give back to the community in meaningful ways.

There will be loads of outdoor games to go with the inflatables, which will include an enormous inflatable castle, complete with a dragon costume along with some high-energy obstacle course inflatables. The kids’ play area will be located on the south and east sides of the courthouse.

Deejay Bob Casey will provide music from 3-8 p.m., plus the cast of favorite children’s characters will also be moseying around downtown for some wonderful photo ops for the kids.

While people will certainly be active and hopping all over town during the day Saturday, come dusk they will settle into their lawn chairs or blankets, or find a cozy spot to take advantage of the colorful and boisterous fireworks that usually begin right around 9:30 p.m.

“This is such a wonderful way to celebrate our community and Independence Day,” Lamp said. “This event has really continued to grow and become bigger and better each year, and where else can you go to find a full day of fun family entertainment for free? It’s just an exciting day that we really cherish here at HDM.”

She added that while the day is geared toward giving the kids a place to enjoy the day, it’s perfect for families and even for senior couples who simply want to spend a day together.

“It’s a relaxing way for couples to just come, get something to eat, sit on the courthouse lawn area and watch the world go by,” Lamp said. “Taking time to enjoy life and the many blessings we have here is a big part of what this event is all about.”

And while the kids are at play, parents and grandparents can peruse the many local shops in HDM and find some great sales and wonderful buys.

“This is a safe place for parents to bring their kids so they can enjoy downtown, it’s a fun celebration and it just feels good to get everything back to normal. It feels good to celebrate together again,” Lamp said. “This is a huge event, and it takes a tremendous effort to pull it off, but we have a dynamite group of amazing volunteers who make it something special that everyone will enjoy and remember.”

With plenty of food on hand throughout the downtown area, bring your family and make a day of this celebration.