Westmoreland fairgrounds will host drive-in fireworks display Saturday

Independence Day revelers will be treated to nearly 30 minutes of fireworks Saturday in Mt. Pleasant Township thanks to a local business owner.

“They should expect a really nice show,” Marcus Wisneski said.

Parking at the “drive-in fireworks show” will start at 7 p.m. at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds, three hours before the event is set to start, he said. Wisneski is using the show as a way to give back to the community after numerous fireworks shows around the region were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wisneski said he is a licensed fireworks shooter. He owns Wisneski’s waste removal service in Unity.

Vehicles will enter the parking area from Fairgrounds Road and exit after the show on Blue Ribbon Lane. The show is free but donations will be collected to benefit the fair board and firefighters with departments in Hecla, Mutual, Calumet, Norvelt and Kecksburg.

Attendees should stay in or near their vehicles, observe social distancing guidelines and clean up after themselves before leaving, Wisneski said. Alcohol is prohibited.

Fourth of July fireworks displays were canceled around the region, including in New Kensington, Latrobe and Pittsburgh. Organizers in all of the communities cited concerns about their ability to meet social distancing and gathering size limits instituted during the pandemic.

Wisneski said he isn’t sure how many people will be at the show. The parking area holds up to 7,000 vehicles.