Musical acts, fireworks fill the air at Fairfield’s Red, White and Kaboom

ABOVE: Kids watch from the playground as Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks fill the sky at Harbin Park in Fairfield during the Red White and Kaboom celebration on Friday, July 3.

Staff photo by Greg Lynch ABOVE: Kids watch from the playground as Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks fill the sky at Harbin Park in Fairfield during the Red White and Kaboom celebration on Friday, July 3.

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By Michael D. Pitman and Josh Sweigart, Staff Writers Updated 1:39 AM Saturday, July 4, 2009

FAIRFIELD — Marguerite Plasman, her friends and family set up their lawn chairs at 10 a.m. on the hill facing the bandstand at Village Green Park Friday morning, July 3.

“It’s our hill, we’ve had this hill for years,” Plasman said. They come to Red, White and Kaboom annually, she said, for family fun, Flub’s ice cream and, of course, fireworks.

Music also was a major draw for the estimated thousands of people who filled the area with lawn chairs and laughter. The headline act was the final round of competition for the Fairfield Idol talent competition.

“I think it’s great,” said Katherine Moore, as her 4-year-old great-granddaughter Caitlin danced to the irrepressible brass of Second Wind and Bluestone Ivory from Cincinnati.

The event offered residents a chance to shirk off the stresses of recession and celebrate America’s independence. Ben Strickler, Fairfield Parks and Recreation events manager, said this year was even bigger than years past with more food vendors.

At nearby Harbin Park, the Rusty Griswolds performed to thousands more prepared to ooh and aah at the pyrotechnic spectacular, launched from the park by Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks.

This was a first for Michelle Leistner of Fairfield.

“We’ve watched them, just not in the park,” Leistner said. “A couple Fourth of Julys we were out of town, and we have a friend that lives on the outside of the park.”

They came this year because of the Rusty Griswolds, and to see what it was like.

“They’re fun. I like the variety of music they play,” Leistner said. “And I didn’t have to get a baby-sitter.”

This is the third year for Mark Breeden, of Delhi Twp., coming to Fairfield’s Independence Day celebration. He was at Harbin Park with friends and family.

“It was pretty nice, so we’ve come back ever since,” Breeden said.

Joe Rozzi, owner of Rozzi’s fireworks, said he’s been in charge of the fireworks display ever since they started at then-Forest Fair Mall in 1991.

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