Capacity Changes For Kaboom Town Fireworks Event

ADDISON (CBSDFW.COM) - Preparations are underway in Addison for the Independence Day Kaboom Town event happening on July 3, and there are some changes you'll need to make note of.

The free fireworks and entertainment event is very popular and was even listed as one of the 2012 Top 10 Best July 4th Fireworks Displays in Forbes Magazine. But event organizers say that designation can make things a bit complicated.

"Having the national rating I think just brings more attention to what we're doing and more people want to some out and see the great show," special events director Barbara Kovacevich explained. "At Addison Circle Park, we just want the people that come there to have a better experience."

City leaders estimate 50,000 people were in Addison Circle Park last year and the large number resulted in some complaints about the area being too crowded.

This year the City of Addison wants to limit the number of people in the park to about 30,000, and that means making some changes. "We will be gating the festival this year and checking bags and coolers," Kovacevich said. "We do have concessions on site, so if you don't have to bring your cooler or bag it's advisable not to -- you'll get through [the line] a little bit faster."

Events for the evening include live music, a family fun zone and an acrobatic air show. Event organizers want everyone to know that there are other options for people who do not want to go or can't get into the park. "You can watch it from pretty much anywhere in our 4 ½ square miles," Kovacevich said of the fireworks show. "So, we estimate that within those 4 ½ square miles about a half a million people will watch the show."

Gates at Kaboom Town are set to open at Noon on July 3. Performances on the Main stage start at 5 p.m. and the firework show gets underway at 9:35 p.m., with musical simulcast on CBS Radio's 100.3 Jack-FM.

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