By Tony E Windsor
For more than 30 years, the town of Laurel has celebrated Independence Day with a festival that draws families downtown for music, food, and community spirit. But beginning next year, town leaders are making a change. According to Town Manager Jamie Smith, the Laurel 4th of July Celebration will be replaced by a new spring festival called “Laurel Heritage Day.”
The event is scheduled for April 11 and will feature many of the activities attendees have come to expect. A car show will continue to line the street, bands will play music throughout the afternoon, and food and craft vendors will be on hand. Smith said she and members of town staff are making plans for an event that may start small but will grow into a tradition.
“The Fourth of July event has been a wonderful tradition for Laurel, and many memories were created for families over the years,” Smith said. “However, attendance has declined, and we believe it’s time to try something new that will bring fresh energy and excitement.”
One thing that will not change as a tradition for July 4th, however, is Laurel’s fireworks display. The pyrotechnics show remains a staple of summer in town, already scheduled and contracted for July 4. Smith explained that the fireworks are expensive, costing about $25,000 this year. Sponsorships usually cover around $13,000 of that total, leaving the town to make up the difference in its budget.
“We are reducing that number slightly to about $22,000 or $23,000, but even with the shortfall, it’s worth it,” Smith said. “The show brings thousands of people into Laurel, and that’s great for our town.”
Smith added that many longtime sponsors of the 4th of July event will continue to support the fireworks, while staff are working to bring in new sponsors for Heritage Day. Smith said the town wants Heritage Day to feel both “familiar and new.” The first year will include a car show, a band, and a mix of food and non-food vendors. Community organizations will also be invited to set up booths to share information and services.
Smith said the town plans to limit the number of food vendors in the first year to ensure strong sales for each vendor and encourage them to return in future years. Non-food vendors, however, may be more numerous depending on available space.
The tentative location for the event is Janosik Park. If ongoing construction on the park’s walkway is not completed in time, the town has a backup plan. Music and non-food vendors would move to Market Square Park, food vendors would be placed along Market Street and Central Avenue, and the car show would line Central Avenue.
Laurel officials hope Heritage Day will do more than fill the void left by the daytime Fourth of July festival. They want it to become a gathering point for the community, a chance to bring people downtown in the spring and celebrate the town’s history and spirit.
“You know, it’s something new, something exciting,” Smith said. “Maybe the Fourth of July daytime events just ran their course. If it wasn’t for the car show, they really wouldn’t have had much of a crowd until the fireworks. We’re just trying to bring something fresh to the town and, hopefully, get full participation from our residents. We hope everyone will come out and help us start a new tradition.”
