Alexandra Martinakova photos
As seen from the Wilbur Cross High School athletic field.
Ella Sussman playing with her kids Naomi and Tyrone before the fireworks.
Ella Sussman tossed a ball with her kids Friday evening at the Wilbur Cross High School football field as they waited for the city’s annual fireworks show to begin — a show that her child Naomi ultimately gave “two thumbs up.”
Sussman and her family traveled down from Longmeadow, Mass., for the Fourth of July celebration in New Haven order to “hang out at her old stomping grounds,” as Sussman is a graduate of the Yale School of Nursing.
“We’re here to celebrate the Fourth and see the fireworks,” she said. “For me, it means a day off from work and for family and anytime I can get that it’s the best.”
The city’s Fourth of July fireworks show was held at Wilbur Cross High School at 181 Mitchell Dr. It started a little after 9 p.m. Friday, saw around 700 shells go off above East Rock, and cost the city $30,000. The show also had pre-firework activities, including various food trucks and a live DJ station by WYBC.
Food vendors included KPot, which sold beef and lamb skewers for $12 for 4, George’s ice cream, and Gee’s Spot, a newly opened hot dog cart.
Justin Toczydlowski and Chastity Young stood among the food trucks, deciding which one to grab a bite at before the show. Toczydlowski said the fireworks celebration last year had “more festivities,” more vendors, and more of a crowd.
“It was way more crowded by this time last year, but there’s way more shows going on this year,” he added. “Still this is supposed to be one of the best shows in Connecticut,” which is why they returned to New Haven’s.
Toczydlowski, who was matching outfits and looking festive with Young, said that the Fourth of July represents freedom to him.
“My grandfather was in WW2,” he said. “They gave their lives so we could have freedom today. It means freedom.”
Barbara Nordheimer tested her friend’s son’s electric skateboard a couple hours before the fireworks show. Nordheimer, who is originally from Chile and now hails from Vermont, said Independence Day is just another regular day for her. She said she enjoys seeing the fireworks.
Mayor Justin Elicker made a brief speech at the DJ booth before starting a 10-second countdown to the fireworks show.
“Are you ready for some fireworks?” Elicker yelled into the microphone. “I am so proud of our city, people from everywhere and all over the place just because we are the most welcoming city on the earth. I am so excited.”
The show lasted around 25 minutes, and ended with a grand finale of five fireworks shooting rapidly in the air.
Firework-watcher Sanghavi, who asked to be identified only by her first name, said the fireworks were fun, but she “was thinking more about the environmental impact,”.
Sussman said that the fireworks were very “Americana,” then shared that her son Tyrone walked for the first time during Friday’s show.
People camping out on the football field, only blankets allowed.
Barbara Nordheimer trying out her friend son Daniel's skateboard.
Lines were long for the few food vendors.
Justin Toczydlowski (right) and Chastity Young use this day as an excuse to dress up.
Mayor Justin Elicker counts down the fireworks show.
Ella Sussman's husband playing with their kids and helping Tyrone take his first steps.
People who brought chairs got to camp out on the field surrounding the athletic complex.
