July 2, 2018-The Emporia State football team has provided plenty of offensive fireworks in the fall, but fans will have a chance to catch some fireworks in the sky above Welch Stadium on the Fourth of July.  The Emporia community Independence Day fireworks display will again be held on the Emporia State campus on the evening of Wednesday, July 4. 

Welch Stadium on the Emporia State University campus will open at 8 p.m. Seating is open on the west side of Welch Stadium and people who want to view from Jones Field are welcome to sit on the field with blankets.  Chairs of any kind, along with sunflower seeds and gum are prohibited on Jones Field and Witten Track to help preserve the playing surface.

The fireworks display organized by the Flint Hills Optimist Club will be shot from the intramural soccer fields north of Interstate 35. It will begin between 9:45 and 10:00 p.m. Typically, the show ends after about 30 minutes. 

The two parking lots across Highland Street from the art annex are available for handicapped parking and viewing.

For those wanting to make a celebration that evening, tailgating is available in designated areas on campus beginning at 7 p.m. These areas are the parking lot north of the Greg Kossover Tennis Complex/Milton Courts and the parking lot adjacent to the Student Recreation Center on the north end of campus.

Neither alcohol nor personal fireworks are allowed on campus. For those tailgating, special containers will be available to dispose of hot coals.

The annual city fireworks display is a cooperative effort among Flint Hills Optimist Club, Emporia Police Department, Lyon County Sheriff's Office, Emporia Fire Department and Emporia State University.

Fans who want to see the Hornet football team put on their own fireworks this fall can use the discount code FBFreedom2018 at tickets.emporia.edu through July 5.