COMMUNITY NEWS

East Meadow celebrates America

Concert, fireworks show a hit at Eisenhower Park

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East Meadowites and residents of Long Island communities far and wide spilled across the Eisenhower Park green on Saturday night for an Independence Day-themed extravaganza.

Nassau County and TD Bank presented Celebrate America — a musical show complete with fireworks — at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre on July 2. After listening to multiple groups play in the band shell and seeing a colorful sunset, hundreds of people watched fireworks light up the sky over East Meadow.

“I thank TD Bank for their continuous support, which makes our spectacular Independence Day celebration possible every year,” County Executive Ed Mangano said. “The annual [event] here in beautiful Eisenhower Park is a great opportunity for our residents to come out and enjoy this world class fireworks show and performances.”

The festivities kicked off with the concert, featuring bands like the Steam Punk Pirates and Killer Joe and the Lido Soul Revue. The fireworks, presented by the Long Island -based Grucci family, were set off at about 9:30 p.m.

Perched on lawn chairs and sprawled out across blankets on the grass, attendees brought snacks, coolers, soccer balls, glow sticks and more to the free event. Families donned patriotic garb in honor of the holiday two days later.

The fireworks could also be seen from local streets like East Meadow Avenue. Residents lined thoroughfares to watch, and some were able to simply look out their windows to see the colorful display.