Addison is marking its 40th Kaboom Town Thursday. The event starts at 7:30 with an air show at Addison Airport.
"For four decades, we have been entertaining North Texas on July 3 for the lead-up to Indepdence Day," says Director of Marketing and Tourism Mary Rosenbleeth. "Kaboom Town is one of the three greatest fireworks shows in the country per USA Today, which we are very honored and proud to have. Kaboom Town is a little different in that we have an air show aspect."
Addison Airport occupies part of the town's four square miles. The air show will include a B25 bomber, a P40 and vintage Warbirds.
"That's an amazing lead-up to an incredible fireworks show," Rosenbleeth says.
She says the show will include 4,000 shells including 1,400 that will be part of the finale.
"You have to be creative, and this is our 40th, so we definitely have some new things," she says.
At Addison Circle Park, Rosenbleeth says the town has a "patriotic playground," new bar set-up and the "Uncle Sam Jam" silent disco.
Outside the airport, people had already started staking out spots to watch before noon Thursday.
"We come to the same spot every year," one dad who brought his wife and kids to their spot near Arapaho and Broadway. "We kind of get to know people. Some do end up leaving and coming back. You kind of make a connection with everybody."
He says a fireworks show for Independence Day can show everybody how much we still share in common even at a time of political strife.
"It's just family. I think that's the most important thing on a day like this is independence and family," he says. "We're here to celebrate the same thing. We have the same rights. There are a lot of places you can't argue about [politics], and we have that freedom to do so."
Addison's Rosenbleeth says the town is glad to see so many people who have made the show a family tradition. She says the event can draw 500,000 people to watch from the park or neighboring restaurants and hotels.
"We're honored so many people choose to spend their holiday with us," she says. "We find tons of families who come back year after year. Some kids have grown up coming to his event, and now they're bringing their kids. That's the ultimate honor to have that reputation for people to want to celebrate with you."
More information and a map of Kaboom Town is available at https://www.addisonkaboomtown.com/ .