Written By Linda Morton

Although many Carroll County organizations sponsor July 4th fireworks, everyone seems to agree that the best display is the one put on by the Carroll County Farm Museum at 500 Center Street, Westminster.

The museum sponsors an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration during the afternoon, culminating in fireworks at 9:30 p.m. The pyrotechnics display is sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Carroll County. It will be the 30th year that July 4th will be celebrated on the museum grounds.

Other Farm Museum activities start at noon and last until
5 p.m. Admission: $5 adults; $3 children 7-18; under 7 free. The price includes the fireworks. The museum and picnic grounds will be open, rain or shine, with artisans in the General Store and food vendors open until 8 p.m. Families may bring picnics
as well.

A moonbounce and other games will be available for children. Musicians will perform on stage all day. In conjunction with the Farm Museum’s 40th Anniversary, this year’s celebration will include a Wall of Heroes featuring local residents’ nominations of everyday people whose heroic actions have made the world a
better place.

For those who want to attend the fireworks only, the fee is $5 a car after 5 p.m. Roads bearing inbound traffic close at 8:30 p.m. Cars will not be able to reach the museum grounds after that time.

The Rotary Clubs’ chairman of the fireworks committee, Joe Legge, said that the 2005 show cost $18,000, all of which was donated. As of April 2006, donations were below last year’s level by $9,000.

Donors of $100 or more receive special parking privileges and are invited to join the Rotarians’ hospitality tent for front row seats to the fireworks show. In case of wet weather, a rain date will be set.

No pets or alcoholic beverages are allowed.

For more information, contact the Carroll County Farm Museum, Dottie Freeman or Jackie Koch, 410-876-2667 or 410-848-7775.