Gabe Stark
Reporter

Residents gathered in Eastside Park on July 4 for a full day of food, activities and community fellowship, capped by a fireworks display that began at 9:30 p.m.

Throughout the day, visitors moved among food trucks, booths and activity areas around the park. Families and friends gathered to eat, visit and enjoy the celebration before settling in for the evening fireworks show.

Activities included the relocated Main Street Trenton Farmers Market, a community barbecue, children’s activities, patriotic music and discounted swimming at the Trenton Family Aquatic Center. The fireworks provided a well-received conclusion to the celebration.

Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kayla Graham said community support helped make the event successful.

“I think the fourth went very well overall,” Graham said. “It was a great community event that brought together people of all ages. The positive community support, volunteers and local businesses all helped make it successful.”

Graham said the cooperation among local groups was one of the day’s greatest strengths.

“The biggest success was the community coming together,” Graham said. “Families, friends, volunteers, sponsors, vendors and organizations all came together to provide a day of activities. Each organization and business came to the table with great ideas, and because of that, I feel like it was a successful day.”

Mayor Jackie Soptic said the activities appeared to be well received by those who attended, adding the city plans to continue supporting the annual fireworks display, but public donations will remain important.

“The city will continue to sponsor the fireworks display and will keep donations in an account for future fireworks purchases, but continued community financial donations will still be needed,” Soptic said. “… The future of the event will depend on what the community wants and who is willing to volunteer and work together to put together a community celebration,” she said.

Graham said the celebration could continue to grow through partnerships, community feedback and additional activities.

“I believe if we continue building partnerships, listening to community feedback and adding new events, it will continue to grow,” Graham said. “It very easily could become a tradition that families will look forward to each year.”