Jamie Byrd, a local business owner, talks to employees at Matrix Distributors in Glasgow on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, during a Christmas giveaway. Byrd began a program called “Helping the Hardworking for the Holidays,” which gave way to the current non-profit, Helping the Hardworking, Inc. Byrd has also spearheaded a community firework show set for July 4, 2020, at Barren River Lake.
Photo by Brennan Crain/WCLU News.
GLASGOW, Ky. – A big downer. That’s what the community called the recent cancellation of the annual fireworks display hosted by the Friends of Barren River each Independence Day.
But after that cancellation notice was given, the community stepped up to make the show happen.
Jamie Byrd, a local business owner and founder of Helping the Hardworking, Inc., said she wanted to find a solution because most firework displays have been canceled across the state due to the coronavirus.
“It was kind of like a really big downer for the area when it comes to economic impact and tradition,” Byrd said. “I am from this area originally, so it really hit me in a way that I thought we really got to find a way to make this happen.”
And making it happen was easy.
Byrd contacted a person she knows who owns private property near Barren River Lake, and that person agreed to allow a private firework show to originate from their property, which sits near the bridge over the lake at the Allen and Barren County line.
The fireworks will be ignited from a cliffside on the property.
“These fireworks are going to be seen now by people that have never seen the full firework show,” Byrd said. “Because we’re shooting one hundred feet higher in elevation than they did last year at the beach.”
The show will happen, but the community’s support and investment in the idea paved the way. Byrd said people began investing money in the project almost immediately.
“It was unreal,” Byrd said. “I literally had enough money in 11 hours.”
Within those 11 hours, the community had invested about $9,500, and the Friends of Barren River donated their $6,000 deposit.
Byrd said the deposit was given to the firework company at an earlier time. Since the private group hired the same company, the deposit was permitted to be used.
And while the pandemic continues, groups will be allowed to view the fireworks from many areas across the area. Byrd said spectators may park near the walking trails, the Barren River Lodge and other areas.
“People can still follow the rules and regulations of the social distancing,” Byrd said. “Groups of 50 or more is after July 1, and no one’s family or group is larger than 50 people.”
Barren River State Park has agreed to allow people to park their vehicles at the Highland Games Shelter and the beach, according to a Facebook post by Byrd. The beach parking is dependent on water levels.
Cars will be allowed into the area beginning at 5 p.m. Spectators are asked to remain in their vehicles.
The private property where the fireworks will originate is not permitted for parking.
The show is set to begin at dark, which Byrd estimates to be 9 p.m. this Saturday.