Fireworks to light up sky at Festival in the Park

MADISON HEIGHTS — A barrage of fireworks will cap off an evening of music, food and fun at this year’s Pre-Fourth of July Festival in the Park — one of the most popular events in the city of Madison Heights.

The festival is set for Sunday, June 25 at Civic Center Park, 360 W. 13 Mile Road, beginning at 6 p.m. The fireworks show will start at 10 p.m., and last about 15-20 minutes.

The live music is headlined by The Ones and Twos — a six-piece band who play jazz, blues, rock, funk and more, including modern dance hits. This will be their first time performing at a venue. The concert starts at 7 p.m.

There will be plenty to eat and drink, with food trucks offering everything from frozen treats to carnival fare. There will also be four bounce houses, a face painter, a balloon artist and henna tattoos.

The fireworks vendor is Pyrotecnico Fireworks, whose credentials range from Super Bowls to the annual Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. The fireworks will be deployed from a small hill at the north end of the park.

“Truthfully, anyone in a 2-mile radius will have a great view of the show,” said Brooke Heisler, the recreation coordinator, via email. “If they want to get close to the action, they can fight the crowds and sit in any grassy area at Civic Center Park, but they have to get there early to ensure their spot!”

Heisler noted that Agnello and Palmer avenues will be closed during the event, and that parking at Civic Center Plaza is limited due to the construction taking place there. As such, she recommends people park in the surrounding neighborhoods and walk over to the park. There will also be parking at Lamphere High School.

The festival is presented by the city of Madison Heights and its Recreation Department, and is made possible by business sponsors, who help cover the price tag of more than $20,000. Last year marked the return of the event after a hiatus due to the pandemic.

Staff from the Department of Public Services help work the event. Police will also be on patrol, and the Fire Department will be on standby. Community groups including local church groups also help out by sweeping litter at the end of the night, so that the park is clean come Monday morning.

“I absolutely love the Festival in the Park,” said Quinn Wright, a member of the City Council. “It’s one of the most jubilant traditions in Madison Heights, one that my family and I look forward to attending year after year.”

Councilmember Toya Aaron said the festival was one of the first events her family attended upon moving to the city.

“Each year, it was bigger and better,” Aaron said via email. “I was elated when it came back last year, and I commended Brooke Heisler for a job well done. I am certain that this year’s event will be even better, and my family will be there to enjoy another family-friendly event.”

Roslyn Grafstein, the mayor of Madison Heights, said the festival is a draw for people from all over the metro Detroit area.

“During the pandemic, it was sorely missed, so I was ecstatic when it returned last year,” Grafstein said via email. “It’s great to walk around and see families of all ages enjoying themselves, and the best part is that it’s free to attend. I found that during the few years we didn’t have the festival and fireworks, many residents were randomly setting off their own smaller fireworks across the city, so it’s nice to have it back in one central location as a large show for everyone to enjoy.”

Mark Bliss, the mayor pro tem, said the festival is a “marquee event” for Madison Heights, and the live music inspired another popular event in the city: the outdoor music festival Trail Tunes.

“Our Fourth of July festival is a family tradition for many, myself included. My parents would take me and my brother there when we were kids, and I’ve had the opportunity to take my own kids since they were born,” Bliss said. “And I’m not unusual — many of the folks attending the festival have attended for multiple decades. It truly is a tradition, and I’m glad that not only was the tradition able to come back last year, but we were able to make additional investments this year to make it even better.”

Councilmember Emily Rohrbach said in an email that she always looks forward to the festival.

“It’s such a great community event,” she said. “Everyone comes together. We laugh, dance, play, and enjoy the fireworks with family, friends and neighbors. This year’s display is bound to be better than ever. I can’t wait to see our community come together again this summer!”