The sky over Lake Orion will light up on the evening of Saturday, June 30 with the firework display hosted by the Lake Orion Fireworks Association. The firework display will begin around 10 p.m., with July 7 set as the rain date.
This year, the fireworks will be lit off a barge anchored in the lake, west of Green’s Park in the area of Squaw Island between the west end of Grove Street and Park Island.
According to Glen Stokes, the chief pyrotechnic operator for the fireworks, although the barges were used last year, the public should expect it to be slightly different this year.
‘We’ve worked out some of the kinks,? he noted, saying that he believes this year’s will be much better and run much smoother than last year.
One resident expressed worry about the safety of the display in a letter read at Monday’s Village Council meeting.
‘I am very concerned about the fireworks that take place on Lake Orion in the village of Lake Orion,? President William Siver read from the letter. ‘For several years, we have had debris from the fireworks falling on our house and the homes around us.?
The location of the barge will be different this year than last, which is believed to hopefully eliminate that issue.
It’s closer to Squaw Island, Village Clerk Arlene Nichols pointed out, saying that it shouldn’t interfere with the individual’s home that wrote the letter.
During the fireworks, Police Chief Jerry Narsh said that entire bay east from Squaw Island to M-24 will be closed to all unauthorized persons and boat traffic at 9 p.m.
‘Boaters attempting to embark into the bay area after 9 p.m. will be stopped and returned to dockside by Lake Orion Police and Oakland County Marine Division Officers,? he added.
According to Narsh, Bellevue Island and Park Island roads and Peltons Point will also be closed to all non-resident vehicular traffic starting at 8 p.m. and until the fireworks display has concluded to ensure village streets are passable for emergency vehicles.
Due to the fireworks being lit from a barge in the lake, Green’s Park will again be open this year for spectators interested in viewing the display from there.
‘This was done for the 2006 fireworks show and was very successful,? Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel said.
According to Van Tassel, the park will close at 8 p.m. per village regulations and reopen at 8:30 p.m. for spectators that have purchased a ticket, which are being pre-sold at Village Hall.