Salt Flats fireworks show to return in 2018

Canyon Road Barn and Grill owner Kent Thompson hopes his Salute on the Flats Fireworks Show becomes a Stephen County tradition.

Due to the cancelation of the Boomfest, Breckenridge’s annual firework show, Thompson decided the city could not go without a show and said he organized the event in less than a week.

“It only started a week before the Fourth of July,” Thompson said. “Being closed on Monday, me and my girlfriend were at the VFW and heard a bunch of the old guys talking about not having  fireworks and I looked at my girlfriend and said ‘We’re going to put on a Fourth of July fireworks show.’ That is how abrupt it was coming together, but next year is going to be phenomenal.”

Thompson said he has already made connections with area fireworks professionals and through those connections plans to have a bigger, better show in 2018.  Thompson thanked the Stephens County Sheriff’s Department, the Breckenridge Fire Department, volunteers from the TBD Boat Fishing Crew and donors for making the event possible. He admitted his debut may not  have been as professional as he would have liked, but none of those in attendance seemed to notice.

“We raised about $5,000 in 30 hours and [TBD] jumped on board as the physical volunteers to pull it off,” Thompson said. “It was not a professionally done show. Joe Bob Cobble’s firework stand is where I made a major purchase, but I bought from every fireworks stand from here to Abilene to put it all together and did it with minimal funds. I didn’t know what you could get for $5,000.” 

Taking everything he has learned from this year’s show, Thompson said he is already putting plans in motion for next year.

“We will do it annually, on the Fourth of July, I don’t care what day it is,” Thompson said.  “I am more of a traditionalist ... I’m not going to move it to a Saturday to convenience the adults.”