'Fourth Time's A Charm': Havre de Grace Mayor On Fireworks

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — The city of Havre de Grace is poised to host its first fireworks show of 2019 this weekend. The light show coincides with the inaugural Havre de Grace Waterfront Festival.

"Fireworks have been rescheduled [from the Fourth of July] for this Saturday, Aug. 24," Mayor William Martin announced at this week's City Council meeting.

"Three times in a row, we had to cancel our fireworks," Martin said. "So fourth time's a charm."

Traditionally, fireworks usher in the new year when the duck drops from a Susquehanna Hose Company ladder truck. But on New Year's Eve, it was raining, and the fireworks show that was planned as part of the festivities dedicated to fallen firefighter Lt. Nathan Flynn was postponed.

Instead, officials said the fireworks would go toward the show on Defenders Weekend May 4 and 5, to celebrate the life of John O'Neill, who defended Havre de Grace from British invasion during the War of 1812. But the elements did not cooperate then either; the fireworks show was canceled May 4 due to the threat of inclement weather.

Two months later, the city's Fourth of July fireworks show was canceled. The parade went off without a hitch July 6, but thunderstorms hit an hour before the Independence Day fireworks were to start that night.

"Right now the weather forecast is looking good," Martin said, knocking on wood.

The forecast calls for a high of 78 and low of 61 in Havre de Grace on Saturday, Aug. 24, and Sunday, Aug. 25. There's a 20 percent chance of rain Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

"Concord Point Park will be a great spot to see it," Martin said of the fireworks show. Food trucks, beverage gardens and live music will be on tap as part of the Waterfront Festival, he added, near the lighthouse.

"But you really can see it anywhere from the shoreline," Martin continued about the fireworks show. "That's the whole point of shooting it off from the water."

The fireworks will be set off from a barge, according to the mayor.

From the Lock House to the lighthouse, the fireworks will be visible "anywhere you want to be with a family on a Saturday night," Martin said.

"When you're watching those fireworks, just think to yourself cumulatively of New Year's Eve and Defenders Weekend ... and the Fourth of July," Martin said. "It's going to be a great fireworks show."

The fireworks will go off at dark on Saturday, Aug. 24.

SEE ALSO:

• Makeup Fireworks Date Set For Havre de Grace After Rainout
• New Art Sculpture To Be Unveiled In Concord Point Park
• Havre de Grace Waterfront Festival: Fireworks, Crab Feast, Art
• Watch The Havre de Grace Independence Day Parade 2019