Springfield to celebrate on the Second

Fireworks are returning to Springfield this holiday weekend. The Crown Point Country Club is putting on the fireworks show tonight, along with a holiday celebration that includes all kinds of family and kid-friendly options.

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Published July 2, 2016 in the Rutland Herald Springfield to celebrate on the Second By SUSAN SMALLHEER SPRINGFIELD — Fireworks are returning to Springfield this holiday weekend. The Crown Point Country Club is putting on the fireworks show tonight, along with a holiday celebration that includes all kinds of family and kid-friendly options. Cost for the fireworks is $5 per person, but it includes a large collection of activities for kids, and a hilltop location for today’s show. Kids under the age of 6 are free. Reiley White of Crown Point said Thursday said that the country club had partnered with Atlas Fireworks for the show. Atlas, which is based in Jaffrey, N.H., put on the fireworks show at the country club during Springfield’s Winter Carnival, she said. White said the gates will open today at 6 p.m., and people will be able to find their spot on the golf course and will be free to bring their own picnic. She said people will not be allowed to bring alcohol to the event, but that beer and wine will be for sale. She said this evening will have all kinds of offerings, including a DJ playing music and face painting for the kids. There is a special golf tournament earlier in the day for club members, as well as a special five-course meal. A four-course meal will be offered to the public for an 8 p.m. seating today, she said. There will be free parking at the nearby Wellwood Orchards in Weathersfield, with two free shuttle buses bringing people to the site. She said that if people want to park at the country club, there will be a $5 fee. The fireworks will be launched near the 6th green, she said. The country club will rope off some areas, but people will be free to bring blankets and chairs to watch the fireworks. There will be food vendors for the event, she said, including pizza, fried dough, and ice cream. The country club is hoping to sell 5,000 tickets. Andy Bladyka, parks and recreation director for the town of Springfield, said he was helping out selling tickets at the Community Center. He said members of the country club were working to put on a festive holiday weekend. Bladyka said that Peter Annis, president of the country club’s board of directors, had been working virtually full time on the holiday event since he sold his business and retired. Bladyka said that 40 volunteers from the club were helping to put on the day and evening’s activities. White said planning for the event had started in March, shortly after the Winter Carnival success. “We loved the show that Atlas put on then,” she said. The show will go on regardless of the weather, although she said the forecast was for a “nice coolish evening.” “I’m crossing my fingers,” she said. http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160702/NEWS02/160709909