The Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department and Synovus will present the 2019 Firecracker Fest at Mill Creek Regional Park in Statesboro on Thursday — the Fourth of July — from 5–10 p.m.

The free event will include inflatables, live music and community exhibitions, as well as the traditional Frog Jumping Contest. If you plan on participating in the contest, plan to bring your own frog to Field 3 between 5–5:30 p.m. 

For the finale, Briggs and Stratton will sponsor the fireworks show, scheduled for around 9:15 p.m.

The music lineup this year includes Papa Sol, a powerful band featuring lively floor shows and danceable pop and soul. The band's repertoire also contains a bit of funk, reggae, country, blues, jazz and more. Papa Sol will be onstage from 5:30–7 p.m. and 7:45–9:15 p.m.

Gazzie White, Statesboro native and former "American Idol" contestant, will fill the 7–7:45 p.m. stage slot.

The Firecracker Fest has been a Statesboro tradition for many, many years.

"The Firecracker Fest is a great event for everyone in our community," said Mike Rollins, director of SBCPRD. "We are excited to carry on this Statesboro tradition with the help of Synovus and our other generous sponsors." 

This year's Firecracker Fest is sponsored by Synovus, Briggs and Stratton, Coca-Cola, the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro, Brickhouse Live, Blanchard Equipment, Statesboro Golf Carts and Northland Cable.

Traffic plans

The SBCPRD has worked with local law enforcement and the Georgia Highway Patrol to create a traffic plan for this event. Starting at 6:30 p.m., the back exit to Mill Creek Park will be used as an exit only. Traffic will be stopped at the intersection of Brannen and Beasley and only residents will be allowed to turn down Brannen Road.

Starting at 8:45 p.m., no traffic will be allowed down Highway 24 from the 301 Bypass to the recycling center just past the main entrance to Mill Creek Park. From 9:30–10:30 p.m., traffic will exit out of the main entrance of the park, using both lanes. The right lane will be directed right or left onto Highway 24; the left lane will be directed left onto Highway 24.  

Traffic exiting from residences and businesses across Highway 24 from Mill Creek Regional Park will only be allowed to turn right (west) onto Highway 24. Both lanes of Highway 24 will go straight to the bypass. The right lane of Highway 24 will be allowed to travel right onto the bypass or straight on Highway 24/East Main. The left lane of Highway 24 will be directed left onto the bypass.

Traffic exiting out of the back exit at Mill Creek Park will turn right onto Brannen Road and then left onto Beasley Road to Highway 80. 

Once all cars have exited from Mill Creek Park, traffic from Mill Creek Elementary School will be directed right onto Beasley Road to Highway 80.  Traffic exiting from Bible Baptist, Trinity Church and Barnes Lumber will be directed right onto Highway 24 to the bypass for access to Highways 80 and 301.  

Exiting preference will be given to people parked in designated areas within Mill Creek Park.

Any traffic wishing to travel down Highway 24 after 8:45 p.m. will be rerouted to Highway 80 East to Burkhalter Road, where drivers will turn left and travel down to Zettwell Road, then turn left again. This will lead back to Highway 24 on the opposite side of Mill Creek Park.

For more information on the 2019 Firecracker Fest, call (912) 764-5637 or visit www.bullochrec.com.