ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Looking for good time, a good family celebration and lots and lots of fireworks (What’s July 4 without fireworks?) without being crushed at the coast?

Then head to central Baldwin county where there are two great celebrations on tap. Best of all, admission is free, and you can make your own fun at both of them.

Loxley, the “biggest little town in Baldwin” is going to have a traditional July 4 celebration on (surprise!) Friday, July 4 starting at 4:00 p.m. at Loxley Municipal Park. Live entertainment will begin at 5 p.m. The celebration is called “Sparks in the Park,” and it looks like organizers have plenty on tap for all ages.

The park is right along Alabama 59, so it’s easy to find. Get there early to stake out a good spot, or to corral one of the three covered picnic pavilions.

“The town did this last year as part of their 50th Year of Incorporation Celebration , said Joey Knight, Loxley Civic Center Events Coordinator. “It was so successful that they decided to do it again and make it better.”

There’s a state-of-the-art playground at the park, and a walking track so there’s plenty for all ages to do while waiting for the fireworks.

If that’s not enough, there’s also going to be live entertainment with Julianne Reynolds, Chuck Stevens, Jerry Byrd, and Tanya Madison scheduled to perform.

The fireworks will be readily seen from the bleachers at the ballpark, Knight says.

“The location of the fireworks are going to be slightly different this year from last as to make the bleachers available,” said Knight.

If you want, you can express your feelings about our public officials. A dunking tank will be on the grounds, and is scheduled to have good-sport local political figures as the “dunkees.” As of this writing, it has not been determined how much each ball will cost, but it’s a certainty that some local politicians are going to get all wet.

Burris Farm Market will provide ice cold watermelon, and a local FM country music station will be providing tunes and activities throughout the day.

“We really want the people who don’t have a family in the area to come on out,” said Jerry Byrd. “We are going to be their family for them this holiday.”

Don’t bother to pack a basket. The Loxley Volunteer Fire Department will have its cooking trailer at the site.

“The fire department will be serving hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage dogs, soft drinks, and other selections from their cook trailer,” said Knight. Proceeds from the sale, added Knight, will be used to provide items the volunteers need for their fire service.

Robertsdale

The celebration will be just a patriotic, but a little more low-key in Robertsdale. The fun will also involve an impressive fireworks display scheduled to blast off sometime between 8:45 and 9 p.m. in Garrett Park. But, it’s really a make your own fun event, says Robertsdale Mayor Charles H. Murphy in a telephone interview.

“Families come out early and it becomes a part barbecue and part tailgate party,” said Murphy. “We really want as many people as possible to come out.”

The city will be spending about $8,200 on fireworks this year, up a little bit from the normal $7,8000. The display is expected to last 20-25 minutes.

“Most of the difference this year comes from fuel prices and some other expenses,” Murphy said.

The fireworks tradition is a long-standing one in Robertsdale.

“I guess it’s been going on for about 25 years or so,” said Murphy.

Murphy added that Gulf Tel first provided the spectacle.

“They did it for about 10 years,” recalled Murphy. “We then got a call saying that they’d be getting out of the displays. They used to buy the shells and have their own personnel shoot them off.”

Having city employees shooting off fireworks wasn’t exactly Murphy’s favorite thing, so he says he checked with the company that provided the shells, and discovered that they put of fireworks shows.

“We use Pyrotechnia out of Montgomery, and I am very happy with their show,” said Murphy. “They have done an excellent job over the years.”

Keeping the shells dry has sometimes proved a chore.

“We have had some really wet, almost monsoon conditions,” said Murphy. “The Fire Department has run out of tarps trying to keep everything dry.”

Still, Murphy has a favorite moment every year.

“When the display is over,” said Murphy, “and everything has gone off well.”