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Fireworks

July 3, 2023

PHOTOS: 2023 Ellwood City Festival

Thousands of visitors flocked to the grounds to enjoy local food, crafts, and plenty of entertainment during the 2023 Ellwood City Arts, Crafts & Foods Festival. While warm and clear weather greeted patrons on Friday, heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday made for a soggy end to the annual festival.  Amid the rain on Sunday, the scheduled fireworks took place as scheduled. Reagan Boariu was named the 2023 Little Miss Firecracker on Friday while Asa Equels, 29, of Wilmington, Delaware, won the annual Ellwood City Ledger 10k race on Saturday. Joe Kozora, now a two-time winner of the Community Choice…

October 18, 2021

Two-Day Live Music Festival, Halloween Fun to Take Over Ellport

Live local music, a Halloween theme, events for kids, and some spooky fun for adults … you don’t want to miss the Ellwood City Band Bash. Local Resident Eric Rayner is back at it again raising money for the annual summer fireworks show while providing entertainment for the community. On October 22-23 ten musical acts will entertain the crowd at Robert E Rodgers Memorial Park in Ellport. “This is our best lineup yet,” Rayner said. EVENT LINE-UP: Friday October 22 (Gates Open at 4 p.m.) 4-4:45- Zakk Bissell 5-6 Eric Oliver 6:30-7:30 The Zoo 8-10 The Middle Room Saturday October…

June 30, 2021

Fireworks to Provide Flare for Ellwood City

Fireworks will light up the night sky on Friday, July 2, beginning at 9:45 p.m. The Zambelli display will be set off at Stiefel Park this year. Organizer Eric Rayner said the fireworks were made possible at the last minute by Visit Lawrence County, which donated $1,000, Ellwood City Forge with a $2,000 donation, the Ellwood City Area Chamber of Commerce providing a $500 donation, and the Festival Committee is picking up the tab for the police presence. He said Dan Vogler and Lawrence County Commissioners were monumental in helping him find the right organizations to make the event possible….

October 27, 2020

Fall Band Bash to Benefit 2021 Fireworks Display

Have you been itching to get out and enjoy a concert? Look no further than Ellwood City and the 1st Annual Ellwood City Fall Band Bash. Eric Rayner, organizer of the event, said he is thrilled to be able to have such an exciting fundraiser. “I think this event comes at a perfect time for a lot of people,” Rayner said. “2020 has been rough for everyone. With the pandemic causing most things to be canceled, and the non-stop election stuff, I think we all need something.” Beginning at Noon on November 7th at William Rodgers Memorial Park in Ellport,…

June 26, 2020

Local Man Works to Save Fireworks Again

For the second year in a row, Eric Rayner has fought to save the fireworks display. And he will get his wish. Council voted on June 17 to have the 2020 fireworks. Last year, the concern was a lack of funding. This year, the fireworks are fully funded but when the Annual Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food and Entertainment Festival was canceled for 2020, Rayner decided he did not want that to include a cancellation of the fireworks. The fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. July 3 at Steifel Park. He said the location was chosen for visibility. “I’m hoping…

January 30, 2020

Fireworks Benefit to Feature Live Music, Comedy, Food, Prizes

An explosion of entertainment, food, and fun will kick off this year’s Fireworks Benefit. The event will take place at Koehler Brewery, 130 Wampum Ave, from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday February 8. The benefit will raise money to sustain the annual fireworks display at the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, and Foods Festival and is being organized by Eric Rayner, the Ellport man who lead the community in an effort to save the display last year. “This year I decided I wanted to do the fireworks fundraising a little bit different. Instead of asking for donations, I wanted to…

June 13, 2019

Fireworks Fundraiser More Than Doubles Goal: $11,230 Raised

The fireworks fundraiser earned double plus its $5,000 goal tallying out at a final number of $11,230. A goal which started with one concerned 26-year-old Ellport man, Eric Rayner, turned into a community wide effort and gained the support of residents and businesses across the Ellwood City area. “To know that we raised over double what we needed is mind blowing, considering that we didn’t ask any business or groups for donations,” Rayner said. “To see how many business and groups reached out to us, along with all the members of the community who donated and bought shirts truly shows…

May 11, 2019

Fireworks Fundraiser Surpasses Goal: $9,000 Donated So Far

Ellwood City will not only have its fireworks display this year at the festival, it will be a display with some extra bang. Eric Rayner the 26-year-old Ellport man who has been the face of the Save The Ellwood City Fireworks fundraiser announced on May 9 that the $5,000 goal was met and an additional $4,00o was raised bringing the current total to $9,000. Rayner said, based on community input, any money raised over the original goal will be split 45 percent toward a larger fireworks display and 55 percent saved for next year’s display. “It’s been an honor to…

May 7, 2019

$4,357 Raised for Fireworks; Still Time to Donate

Fireworks Fundraiser draws closer to $5,000 goal. “We’ve received many donations and t shirt orders from people in the community and some people who don’t even live here,” said Eric Rayner, organizer of the fundraiser. “I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of such an amazing community.” As of May 6, $4,357 has been raised toward the $5,000 goal. The most recent donation was made by Bud Mazzant in combination with Berkshire Hathaway of Cranberry. They donated $500. Mazzant said the decision to donate was simple. “If you do away with fireworks and all those ammenities, you ruin…

April 30, 2019

Festival Fireworks Fundraiser: Custom Logo Apparel Available, In Person Donation Day Set

Donations have started rolling into the Save the Ellwood City Fireworks fundraiser. Eric Rayner, the 26-year-old Ellport man who is leading the fundraising effort, said that as of April 30, donations total nearly $3,000 of the $5,000 needed to save the fireworks. The most recent donation was a $1,000 donation from the Ellwood City Police Department officers. “I’m overwhelmed by the amount of support we’ve gained in just the few days we’ve been accepting donations!” Rayner said. “Our community has really stepped up and put their money where their mouth is. I’m strongly encouraged that we will raise above and…