DAPHNE, Ala. — More than two centuries after the 13 colonies declared their independence from Great Britain with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, fireworks lit up the night sky in celebration of independence, freedom and liberty.

Just after 9 p.m., lights at Al Trione Sports Complex dimmed and a crowd was treated to a professionally executed pyrotechnic show funded by the city of Daphne.

 “We usually shoot our own fireworks,” Josh Miller of Daphne said. “Because of the drought and the wildfire in Gulf Shores, we didn’t want to risk setting something on fire. We couldn’t have a Fourth of July without fireworks, so we came here.” A Daphne Police Department news release stated that the city banned the sell or use of fireworks. However, people could shoot fireworks in unincorporated areas.

Some children brought their own light displays to keep them occupied until the fireworks began.

“My mom told me we might have to wait a while for the fireworks to start, so I brought a toy that lights up to play with until it was time for the fireworks,” McKenzie Summers, 8, of Daphne said.

Other children ran around with sparklers, despite the ban.

The city’s firework’s show lasted for a little longer than a half-hour. The Daphne fireworks were more appealing to some who attended than other shows because it was so close.

“We thought about going to the Battleship to watch Mobile’s fireworks, but this show was a lot closer, and I am sure the Battleship is packed and traffic will be a nightmare,” Samantha Johnson of Daphne said.

Bumper-to-bumper traffic in the George Wallace Tunnel toward the east ramp leading to the Causeway characterized the wait for those attendees.