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Decherd held it’s first-ever fireworks show last year, and Peyton Cornett and Zach Langford, who spearheaded the project, are eager to make Saturday’s second round bigger and better.

The two Fire Department engineers have picked up where they left off last year and are striving to improve over last year’s offerings.

The show will be held at John L. Sanders Park, 107 S. College St., with the grounds opening at 6 p.m. and the fireworks following at dusk.

Cornett and Langford said they decided last year to push for the fireworks show to give something back to their community.

Cornett said other communities, including Winchester, Estill Springs, Tullahoma and Sewanee, have had fireworks shows either sponsored privately or by their respective cities, and he felt Decherd needed to have one to assume its own fireworks identity.

To say the least, it worked.

Cornett and Langford received praise last year at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s July meeting when the two were presented with matching certificates of appreciation for the first fireworks show that say:

“In recognition of your exemplary and continued support to Decherd Fire and Rescue, specifically for initiative, planning and execution of the City of Decherd’s 2022 July 4^th Fireworks Celebration, your time, service and dedication is greatly appreciated by all members of the department and the citizens of the City of Decherd.”

Richard Gulley, who was an alderman at the time, said it was a great fireworks show, and it was about as good as it possibly could have been. He added that the event was thoroughly enjoyed by those who got to witness it.

Former Fire Chief Daniel Meaker had addressed the board about it and referred to Gulley’s assessment.

“Mr. Gulley kind of stole some of my thunder,” he said, referring to how he was going to personally give accolades about the event, but Gulley got there first.

“We can keep this going in Decherd and make it bigger and better every year,” Meaker said.

He said he was approached about handling the fireworks show, and that led to getting Langford and Cornett involved.

“With all their hard work and dedication, it was exceptional,” Meaker said. “This was truly their baby.”

Gulley said that for a seemingly smaller show, the fireworks display captured his attention for its full 32 minutes, 32 seconds.

“It was awesome,” he said, adding later: “It was a great show. I appreciate it.”

Meaker followed by saying: “All in all, I think it was a very successful fireworks show.”

Cornett and Langford had a $5,000 budget to work with last year, and the city agreed to up the amount to $7,500 this year.

Cornett said the additional fireworks this year won’t extend the event’s time frame. He explained that plans are to speed up the ignition process and have more fireworks set off in the same amount of time, which should further hold the audience’s attention.

Langford said he gained experience working with the fireworks show at Sewanee, and it was natural to continue doing the same at Decherd after he became a fireman.

Cornett and Langford said they hope the number of spectators will continue to grow annually, and plans are to add more accommodations in subsequent years.

Cornett said food-truck vendors 321 Dogs, Go-Go Hoagies, Hillbilly Q, Jiffy Dip, Tri-Star BBQ, Simmons Ice Cream, and Kettle Korn Kommander have agreed to have their vending vehicles along College Street, which will be closed to traffic during the event. He added that more vendors will probably be added to the list before the big show starts.

Cornett said a future goal is to add a Kidz Zone area and have a waterslide and bounce house available for children.

“We want to turn it into a full-day event that can be enjoyed be everyone,” he said.

Mayor Mary Nell Hess said she really appreciates the commitment and effort Langford and Cornett have given to the fireworks show which includes all the planning and promotion of the event.

“They have been totally into it, and it showed last year,” she said. “They’re very excited about it.”