Sparkling Skies: ‘Absolutely fabulous’ fireworks light up Sternwheel Festival

This year’s Sternwheel Festival came to a close on Sunday. According to Fireworks Chairman Dennis Blauser, the fireworks were “absolutely fabulous.”

This year, they tried out some new fireworks they had never used before, some of which had to be imported from other countries. The fireworks, like usual, were coordinated to music; this year they coordinated the fireworks to music by Tina Turner as well as many other well known artists.

“The crowd loved it,” said Blauser.

On Friday, Cookie Watkins, a Tina Turner tribute artist played as live entertainment; Highway 96 played before and after the fireworks Saturday; and CRUSH, a Bon Jovi tribute band, closed out the festival on Sunday. Sprinkled in between the big headliners were tons of local talent such as Bruce Haas Trio, Division Street, and singer songwriter Charlie Brewer.

“It’s a great opportunity for the family to get together,” said Blauser, referring to the Sternwheel Festival. “It’s like a homecoming celebration.

Blauser says that the Sternwheel Festival is a family based show and brings in tourists from around the globe.