Summit Hose plans July 3 fireworks in Tarentum

Thousands of people will be lined up Sunday night on roads, bridges and in parks to watch the annual fireworks display by Summit Hose in Tarentum.

The event will begin at 10 p.m. in Dreshar Stadium, along First Avenue.

Chief Josh Fox said the show will go on despite a lackluster fundraising season and the lack of volunteers to run a concession stand.

Still, the fire company is excited to host the fireworks display as it has for decades.

“We like to make everyone happy,” Fox said. “It’s a tradition.”

The 15- to 20-minute show will be launched from a roped-off area near the hockey deck.

Fox asked that onlookers respect the taped zones and not distract the operators.

“The safety areas are taped off for a reason,” he said. “We’d like people to respect that.”

Summit Hose has become known for hosting a spectacular display on July 3. Only once, in 2020, was the show canceled, and that was because of covid restrictions.

This year, the food booths that were available in the past will not be part of the event because of a lack of funding and manpower, Fox said.

The fire department raised enough money to cover the $15,000 show thanks to a raffle sale the past few weeks. Tickets still are available on the Summit Hose Facebook page.

“The books sold out quick last year,” Fox said. “Donations are down a little, but we expect to sell out and we have enough to do the show.

“We’ve come to accept it’s not a money-maker — it’s a tradition.”

Fox said people can take a seat inside the stadium but he knows the majority will be watching from afar. People in several communities can take in the display, from Tarentum, Brackenridge, Harrison, Lower Burrell and beyond.

“The streets all around are filled with cars parked to watch the fireworks,” Fox said. “The sidewalk on the Tarentum Bridge is usually lined up.”