A moment of silence then ‘boom’ at Legacy Blast show

The lights went off at Legacy Park at 9:30 p.m. July 3, and a large crowd anticipated the annual Legacy Blast fireworks show.

For about 15 minutes, the sky remained dark, but for a fog-enshrouded moon and rockets exploding far away on the horizon. Finally, the crowd heard a boom, and a burst of colors brightened the sky.

Jodi Bell, Legacy Park Community Center manager, said the department always turns off the lights at 9:30 so people can finish parking, moving to viewing spots, and buying their final concession stand purchases. The plan is for the show to begin anytime between 9:40 and 9:45 p.m., depending on when the radio station has a break in programming to fit it in, she said.

The celebration drew about 22,000, Bell estimated, and the crowds filled parking lots in the park and nearby schools and churches. Last year’s crowd was estimated at 19,000.

The evening was warm, and rain appeared to threaten under partly cloudy skies, but the city missed any serious July 4 storms.

Brian Otto, his wife, Jessica, and two children, Makayla, 10, and Peyton 7, visited from Grain Valley. They met with their church group. Brian Otto said he and his wife grew up in Lee’s Summit and have come to Legacy Blast for many years. It’s always a good time, he said.

Makayal got a butterfly and Peyton a laser gun from a balloon artist while waiting for the fireworks extravaganza.

“It’s got to be a gun of course,” Brian Otto said. “At least it doesn’t make noise.”

This story was originally published July 7, 2017 at 11:48 AM with the headline "A moment of silence then ‘boom’ at Legacy Blast show."