City of Xenia celebrates Independence Day with 8th annual "Kevin Sonnycalb Memorial Fireworks Festival

The City of Xenia is pleased to once again host Xenia Rotary Club's annual "Kevin Sonnycalb Memorial Fireworks Festival" at the City's iconic Shawnee Park on Friday, July 1, 2022.

The fireworks festival will be held alongside the City's Red, White & Blue Block Party in downtown Xenia, which will run from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m.. This year's block party will feature live music, sand sculptures, more than a dozen food trucks, a cornhole tournament, toy show, cruise-in and children's activities including face painting, climbing wall and other games for children of all ages. Athletes in Action and the Xenia YMCA will also provide additional sporting activities and tutorials for kids.

The fireworks, produced by American Fireworks, and presented by the Xenia Rotary Club, will begin at 10 p.m. and will showcase nearly 30 minutes of uninterrupted pyrotechnics. Ahead of the fireworks display, visitors to the festival at Shawnee Park will have a variety of activities available to them including more than a dozen food trucks, bouncy houses, live music featuring the award-winning bluegrass band, Lonesome River Band.

Children also won't want to miss the annual bicycle parade. This year's parade theme is "The Deep Blue Sea: A Treasure of Wonders." The bicycle parade will begin downtown in front of the Greene County Courthouse and will continue to Shawnee Pavilion where bikes
will be judged and awarded prizes for best presentation.

This will be the eighth (8th) year the City of Xenia has hosted the fireworks show. "This is one of Xenia's most beloved traditions," said Xenia City Manager Brent Merriman. "Thousands of people gather at Shawnee Park and are treated to high quality entertainment, food, and one of the best fireworks shows in the region. Xenia is proud to be a destination for folks to celebrate America's independence."

The annual fireworks show and festival is named in honor of Xenia Rotarian Kevin Sonnycalb, who embodied Rotary's motto of 'Service Above Self.' "The Xenia Rotary Club is pleased to be an integral part of this now, the eighth (8th) year of the Xenia Rotary Kevin Sonnycalb Memorial Fireworks Festival," said Xenia Rotary President Joe Kennedy. "We do so with such pride as Kevin was a dear friend, not to mention fellow Xenia Rotarian, and a mentor to me and so many other younger folks growing up in this fine town." Following Kevin's passing, the Sonnycalb family, through their foundation, worked with Xenia Rotary to bring the annual fireworks back to Xenia in 2015.

It has been Xenia Rotarians' mission for the past 100 years to help improve the community and the Kevin Sonnycalb Memorial Fireworks Festival represents the essence of that mission. "Kevin, along with his wife Susie, and daughters Meredith and Abby, believed in the importance of a strong community," Kennedy said. "What better way to celebrate our freedom than a fireworks display for us all to share. Kevin loved this about the 4th of July. We're honored to see the cohesion of multiple donors, volunteers, and of course the City of Xenia as our host in Shawnee Park and throughout the City. There is much that goes into an event like this, but a common goal goes a long way, and that is what we have." 

For more information about the City of Xenia visit: www.explorexenia.com
For more information about the "Kevin Sonnycalb Memorial Fireworks" visit: www.facebook.com/SonnycalbFireworks
Learn more about the Red, White & Blue Block Party by visiting the City of Xenia's Facebook page.