Andalusia will celebrate Independence Day with a tremendous fireworks display over Lake Armstrong Thursday, July 4.

Dwight Mikel, director of the department of leisure services, said the event is a safe and fun way to enjoy the Fourth of July.

"It will be a real festive afternoon," Mikel said. "There are a lot of things

I think the kids will enjoy the event. We will have inflatables for the kids, a good variety of music, and watermelon cutting."

According to Mikel, a wide variety of fireworks will light the sky during the show.

"It will be a 15 or 20 minute show," Mikel said. "The fireworks music will be simulcast on WAAO radio beginning at 8:30 p.m."

Mikel said the show is a safe alternative to lighting fireworks at home.

"These people are professionals," Mikel said. "Not only do they produce some of the world's most beautiful fireworks, but they also produce some of the safest. The way these people fire them is state of the art."

Mikel said many people attended the show last year, adding that people should arrive early to enjoy the live music and to ensure their place by the lake.

"We had a tremendous crowd come out there last year," Mikel said. "People should arrive early and stay to enjoy the music after the fireworks are over. There will be people there to assist them in parking before the show and leaving after the event ends.

According to Mikel, traffic should move smoothly and quickly after the event ends.

"Last New Year's Eve, we tried something new and we developed a second exit," Mikel said. "We had the entire place cleared of traffic in about 15 minutes after the show."

Admission to the event is free and gates will open at 5 p.m. Live music and other festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by the fireworks display at 8:30 p.m.

Light concessions will be available at the event.