Alva Review-Courier -

“If Hardtner was still doing their fireworks we wouldn't do this in Kiowa. We loved Hardtner's tradition,” Kiowa woman Jenna Mostert said.

Last year Mostert and her husband Will and their friends Jarrod and Sammi Inman and many other of their friends who had shot fireworks together for years decided to go big. The group began asking for donations and they put on a spectacular aerial fireworks display in 2022. Everyone loved it so much they started donating for the 2023 show.

The friends held a 50/50 raffle recently. One-half of the money was to purchase fireworks and the other half went into a pot. The lucky winning raffle ticket for the big pot of cash will be drawn right before Tamara Bogatay sings the National Anthem.

Mostert said, “We had a great turnout this year! Donations exceeded over what we estimated. We'll save some for next year.”

Kiowa's Fourth of July has a group of 8 to 10 guys to shoot the aerial fireworks. They also have grass rig firetrucks just in case. If you'd like to donate or help call Jenna at 785-317-5362 or Jarrod at 580-829-2763.

The booms and thrilling explosions of colorful designs start at 9:30 p.m. Wear your red, white and blue, wave Old Glory and look forward to hearing “I'm proud to be an American!”

“We have hope to make it bigger every year – a community event,” Mostert said.