Oxford celebrates the Fourth of July a day early with Freedom Festival

After a brief storm in the late afternoon, hundreds of Oxford residents flocked to Oxford Community Park for the annual Freedom Festival and fireworks show July 3.

The event, which commemorated America's Independence Day July 4, officially ran 5-10 p.m., got off to a slow start as families avoided the rain. As the sun came out, though, the park filled up with residents decked out in red, white and blue.

For Daniel Kyger, who came with his friend Brynlee and his mom Brittany Kyger, the bounce houses were the highlight of the evening. He bragged that he got to go down the inflatable slide 10 times.

Brynlee, meanwhile, said her favorite part of the evening was getting her face painted because it made her feel like a princess.

The Freedom Festival included an outdoor drinking area within the park, food from LaRosa's Pizzeria and other local businesses, plenty of activities from gaga ball to mini golf, axe throwing, music and more.

Casey Heintz came to the festival to sell her homemade plaques with West Side Tinker Crafts. She said the military plaques are especially popular, and her business sells one for each branch of the armed forces.

"We drive up here about an hour to come," Heintz said. "This is our second year ... because we liked it last year. It was really nice."

This year marked Greg Beherns' second time coming to the Freedom Festival as a vendor, too, though his business has only had a storefront since last November. He was selling natural pet food with Pet Wants, a local pet store based in Eaton with a store in Oxford.

"We're the only pet food and pet treat store in town," Beherns said. "[The Freedom Festival] is a good opportunity. Our territory is Richmond, Eaton and Oxford."

Ashley Sammons, a teacher at Talawanda High School, attended the festival with her husband Ben and her two kids, Lydia and Alvie. Before settling down for the fireworks display, Alvie and Lydia got to try their hands at using a firehose with the Oxford Fire Department's setup.

For Sammons, one of the best parts of the evening was getting to see her students in the community. The event is fun for her whole family, she said.

"Kids get a chance to run around and do the different games and activities," she said. Her husband added that the festival seems drama-free each year.

The night ended with a fireworks display, Alvie's favorite part of the festival. He said he especially likes the end when all of the fireworks go off at once.

Oxford residents will have a second chance to see fireworks Friday night at Hueston Woods' "Thunder Friday" show in the evening July 5. The park will have food vendors at the beach from 5-9 p.m. and at the lodge from 5-10 p.m. followed by a fireworks display.