Rangely fireworks blast off at Kenney

RANGELY — Folks here can expect a bang on Friday.
Once again, the Western Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District will sponsor — with the county and the town also chipping in financially — a fireworks display at Kenney Reservoir.
“We’ll be shootin’ ‘em off at dusk,” said Tim Webber, director of the recreation district.
Fireworks-watchers will set up lawn chairs in the parking lot, while others will view the display from boats.
“You get all of the special effects and you get the sound, because of the canyon,” Webber said, explaining why Kenney Reservoir makes a good location for the fireworks spectacle.
It takes considerable set-up time as well as training in pyrotechnics to put on the annual Fourth of July fireworks show, Webber said. Not to mention the expense of lighting up the sky.
“We do variations (on the type and amount of fireworks),” Webber said. “But the cost of doing business goes up each year.”
Also on Friday, the Rangely Arts Council will have an art show and fair at Kenney Reservoir, prior to the fireworks.
Earlier in the day, the recreation district will sponsor activities in Elks Park.
“We’re going to have a big inflatable water slide obstacle course and a jousting arena,” said Eric Hejl, recreation supervisor.
The activities in the park will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include a watermelon-eating contest. Prizes will be awarded for the contests.
“We will do a bunch of random drawings, too,” Hejl said. “So we can give away stuff to everybody.”