Fourth fest to be real blast

Spectators can get ready to "oooh" and "aaah," because full-scale fireworks on the Fourth of July are scheduled to return to west Pasco.

The inaugural daylong Hudson Americana Music Fest is billed to feature the county's "largest fireworks display" on Saturday at The Angelus grounds, 12413 Hudson Ave.

Advance $5 tickets are on sale at Patriotic Fireworks locations, Pape Kibos on Hudson Beach or The Angelus. Tickets will cost $7 at the gate. Call (727) 856-1775 for information or visit www. theangelus.com/wb/pages/events/fourth.php.

All proceeds will benefit The Angelus, a home for severely handicapped persons with cerebral palsy who use wheelchairs and are not able to care for themselves.

Patriotic Fireworks is footing the $20,000 bill for the display.

For many years, Gulf View Square mall was the scene of the area's main Independence Day fireworks display. In 2005, however, executives at the Port Richey-area mall scuttled the annual pyrotechnic program, citing crowd-control problems.

The mall had almost pulled the plug on fireworks once before, in 1999, because of the expense, until sponsors came to the rescue at the last minute to foot part of the $10,000 bill.

Main Street Blast continues to offer a fireworks display on the weekend before the Fourth of July. Greater New Port Richey Main Street organizes the event at Sims Park in New Port Richey.

But on the holiday weekend itself, patriotic residents here seeking the pyrotechnics experience during the past five years had to travel to Dade City for Sparklebration or Clearwater in Pinellas County.

Not this year, says Joseph Neri, executive director of The Angelus.

West Pasco residents can have a blast in their own backyard with the festival and fireworks display at The Angelus.

A family atmosphere will be promoted at the music fest, Neri said.

"We're trying to bring something back to Hudson, because there's nothing up here," Neri said.

Gates will open at 10 a.m. Ten bands will perform, beginning at 11 a.m. No coolers or personal fireworks will be allowed.

Visitors can stroll among the stands of art, craft and food vendors.

The pyrotechnics show will be supervised by Don Surenkamp, manager of Patriotic Fireworks, and a team of five others. The firm has some 10 locations in the West Pasco area.

"We put on a good show and a safe show," Surenkamp said. Firefighters will be standing by as a safety precaution.

The firm already arranges a handicap-accessible Haunted House show during Halloween at The Angelus, so Surenkamp offered to put on the fireworks display this July.

"I have a blast going out there spending time with the residents," Surenkamp said about Angelus residents.