SOUTH HADLEY — When Ryan Cauley and Lisa Deroy bought their Parkview Drive home from relatives in November, continuing the family’s July Fourth celebration was a condition of the sale.
The engaged couple held true to their promise, hosting nearly 60 guests to watch South Hadley’s Independence Day fireworks from their new property on Sunday.
“This is America,” said Cauley of the gathering, which featured swimming in the pool, yard games, food and drink. He said the long-standing party is held in honor of those who fought for the country’s freedom.
Cauley said it “means the world” that he can carry on the tradition in a neighborhood that he calls an “all around good place.”
Andy Rogers, the town’s recreation director and general manager of Ledges Golf Club, agreed with Cauley that the location is desirable.
He said about 5,000 people attend the dazzling fireworks event, which he calls “one of the better shows in western Massachusetts.”
For a half-hour, he said after the show, the sky above Michael E. Smith Middle School lit up with 2,600 firework shells shot off by Central Maine Pyrotechnics.
Rogers said he was “blown away” by the quality of the display and the number of shells, and added that the company was easy to work with. He said Central Maine Pyrotechnics has signed a contract to provide South Hadley’s fireworks through 2018.
“Last year, the finale was so good I thought it happened once or twice before it actually did,” he said. “And then the actual finale was really, really good.”
Tony Lazio of South Hadley likes the fireworks that “give off the sparkle rain as they fall.” He and about 14 family members staked off a spot on the school’s soccer and lacrosse fields using American flags.
“It’s a celebration of independence from … tyranny,” he said. As Lazio tossed a Frisbee back and forth earlier in the evening, he noted that South Hadley’s annual event has a “very hometowny feel.”
Tosia Bara of South Hadley sat in the center of the school parking lot, surrounded by visitors milling around the face-paint tent, bounce houses and fried dough line.
“We’re in the middle of everything,” she said alongside friends and family members. “There are less bugs here and we don’t have to drag everything up the hill and back down again.”
Bara said she has enjoyed the South Hadley celebration for 10 years in a row and preferred the “nice, mellow” atmosphere.
But for some who were working on location, the excitement of a large crowd provided a different perspecJtive.
Eight-year-old Audrey Densmore jumped up and down with glee while shaking cinnamon sugar on fried dough at the Second Baptist Church of South Hadley’s tent.
The Chicopee girl asked to spend the early evening working with her two aunts who were rolling dough, and her grandfather who was manning the frier.
“I like when the cinnamon smell really gets through the air,” she said.
Many other town groups volunteered, including the South Hadley Lions Club, offering hot dogs and root beer floats, the United Methodist Church with glowsticks, the South Hadley youth cheerleaders serving cotton candy, the South Hadley Music Parents Association serving popcorn and two free bounce houses run by the town’s recreation department.
Local music was provided by Moose and the High Tops and the South Hadley Community Band.
Rogers said all the volunteers donate a portion of their proceeds to the next fireworks show. That money, and additional funds from event sponsors, provides the roughly $13,000 it takes to put on the event.
PeoplesBank served as the major corporate sponsor, with other sponsors including Metras Insurance Agency, International Golf Management, Easthampton Savings Bank, Beers & Story, South Hadley Lions Club, Music and Arts South Hadley, Associated Flooring and Veryl’s Automotive.
The South Hadley police and fire departments were also on scene, monitoring the crowd, fireworks and the traffic that followed.
Sgt. Chris Luscomb said the fireworks show is very important to the town and only gets better each year.
“The big thing is safety,” he said, noting the increased foot and vehicle traffic when people leave. “Making sure they have a good time and get out smoothly,” he said.
Luscomb said although he is working, he enjoys being present to see the community enjoy themselves. He said roughly 18 officers work to provide a safe scene.
District 2 Fire Capt. Scott Brady said about 20 employees from both fire districts were present, some monitoring the fireworks and others providing education as children climbed up to explore a fire truck.
Brady said he enjoys the opportunity to “interact with the community” at what he calls an “old-fashioned town event.”
With additional staff on to work the stations as well as the event, Brady said Sunday night was “one of the safest nights in town.”
“Each year,” he said, “it’s always the same — the beginning of summer.”
Sarah Crosby can be reached at scrosby@gazettenet.com.