MIYAH MARTIN
Contributor
On Saturday, Jasper held their 5th annual Big Boom event. It was held at the Jasper Baseball Complex. Thousands were in attendance. The event had many things to do such as face painting, caricatures, live music, and much more. One guest said, “It is so much fun. I’ve been coming here every year. It has good food and activities. I recommend it to everyone.”
The Big Boom is an event in Jasper that celebrates Independence Day. It is a free entry and people from all around Marion County are welcome. The event started around 4 p.m. with any kind of food, drink or snack one could think of, ranging from Gatlinburg kettle corn to fire oven pizza. There were at least a dozen or more vendors selling food and drinks.
There were activities galore. There were activities for both adults and kids alike to enjoy. For instance, hosted by Haulin’ Axe, is an activity where one could throw an axe at a target. There were plastic axes that kids were able to throw. Tri-State Party Zone provided at least seven different bounce houses for the kids to enjoy. There was also a bubble pit by Fun Time Foam. After dark, the foam party turned into glow-in-the-dark bubbles for the kids to play in.
Some other vendors were there to promote their cause to raise awareness. One of the vendors was VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars.) They had their “Fill a Boot” fundraiser to help support veterans from all around Marion County. Near their canopy, another vendor was promoting the “Host and Exchange Student” program. Maranda Wilson, local coordinator with international experience says, “It’s a good experience for kids in America to learn more about new cultures.”
A couple of hours later, the headline band “Boomtown Saints” performed live music. They played many songs ranging from their own to popularly known ones. They also paid tribute to all the veterans and soldiers who protect this country. The Boomtown Saints are a band from Nashville with music playing on WEPG and US101 locally. They started touring in 2018. However, their performance at the Big Boom was their first in our area. They provided very enjoyable entertainment as many people crowded around their stage. The band leads, Ben and Chris, were the most down-to-earth people I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with. According to Ben and Chris, “everything they do is for their families.”
Lastly, the show everyone patiently waited for, all the lights were turned off and the first firework went up. A little later, many followed after. The show started at 9 p.m. and ended around 9:15 p.m. There was a beautiful variation between the large and smaller fireworks, all radiating a different color. Each firework illuminated the sky with a bright hue. The Big Boom overall a spectacular function for those around to celebrate Independence Day.
