14th Annual Road Rally And Fireworks Will Be Held July 16

As if Saturday, July 16, weren’t already a busy day, what with going on that afternoon, is sponsoring two additional events to add up to one great day of fun.

First, there’s the 14th annual kicking off at 4:30pm, and later that night, a fireworks display starting at 10 sharp in and lasting between 28 and 34 minutes. 

“It’s our way to give back to the community… and it’s our day to have some fun,” said Carl Strye, president of Vigilance Hose.

Some proceeds of the Road Rally will benefit the of Bushkill Township, which raises money for a cure for pediatric cancer.

The Road Rally is open to anyone with a car, a valid driver’s license and a passenger. Registration begins at 4pm at the park and costs $20 per car.

The rally is not a race. Each registrant will receive a packet with directions and questions that need to be answered along the way. The answers will be found along the specified route, so that no one can cheat mileage.

Winners are determined by the number of correct answers. The top eight spots win cash prizes. And although it’s not a race, time will count for tie-breaking purposes.

The rally typically takes about an hour and a half to complete and winners are announced by 9 p.m. Refreshments are served in the park after the rally until 10pm, and a DJ will provide music.

The first rally started as a way to kill time between the end of Nazareth Day and the fireworks show. The first rally had 38 cars competing and subsequent rallies have averaged 75 to 80 cars each year.

This year, Strye hopes to break the 100-car milestone.

And what are the best vantage points for the fireworks? Strye suggests the hill behind the softball field, or in the grandstands. The cemetery on High Street is a popular viewpoint, too, but during the fireworks is usually standing room only.

“It just gets packed,” he said. “The fireworks pretty much go off right in front of you.”