PRESTONSBURG – With $32,000 in fireworks purchased for the event, Prestonsburg Fire Chief Bobby Carpenter expects Saturday’s Fourth of July celebration to be one of the most impressive displays yet for the city.

“This should be one of the better shows we have had,” Carpenter said. “The fireworks will be visible from downtown and from Archer Park. The show should last about 20 minutes. If we have good, clear weather, it should be great.”

Crews were working on Tuesday to make the road accessible on the mountain where the fireworks will be detonated, and the mortars will be placed in the ground on Thursday.

The Fourth of July festivities officially kicked off on Monday with the opening of the carnival at Archer Park.

Employees of the Drew Exposition were fine-tuning rides on Tuesday and preparing for larger crowds as the week progresses.

“We open at 5 p.m. and usually stay open until 10:30,” said Stoney Thomas, with the carnival. “It really depends on the size of the crowd.”

Also on Saturday, the Friends of Middle Creek will present a program recounting Eastern Kentucky’s Civil War history. Readers in period dress will read letters depicting vignettes of local Civil War history. The Friends of Middle Creek will also answer questions from those in attendance concerning the historical significance of the letters. The readings will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The fireworks show is scheduled to begin around 9:30 Saturday night.

Jenny Wiley State Park also has a full agenda of events for the week, including pontoon boat rides, a wood burning class, a snake display, archery, a hike along the Moss Ridge Trail, fishing, the Amazing Campground Race, a one-man band concert, dancing, pine car building and racing, stuffed animal creating, watermelon and ice cream eating contests and many other activities.

For more information about the events at Jenny Wiley State Park, call (606) 889-1790.