Sam Michael’s Park was filled Friday with thousands of people who came out to enjoy the annual Jefferson County Independence Day celebration.

Despite threats of rain throughout the day, showers held off long enough to allow Digital Lightning to set off a fantastic display of fireworks.

The Gaithersburg, Maryland-based pyrotechnic company has done the show since 2006 and never fails to provide an awe-inspiring display.

Winchester, Virginia, resident Janice Curbow has driven to the show every year.

“We come to enjoy the show with friends,” she said. “It’s one of the best around.”

Ranale Jones, from Ranson, brought her children to enjoy not only the fireworks, but the bands and other activities offered during the afternoon.

“We love all of the excitement,” she said.

On the stage prior to the fireworks display were Andrew McGuigan, Joe Ham and Todd Brooks, who each donated their time and talents to the event.

Vince DiGiorgio, owner of Digital Lightning, said he loves to come to Jefferson County to do the show.

“We are able to set off some of our biggest shells here,” he said. In the cities like Baltimore and Washington where the company does other shows, buildings restrict the use of larger shells.

Those larger shells wowed the crowd as they sent multicolored displays rocketing skyward. Children could be heard screaming and cheering throughout the park.

Organizers of the event indicated that the show was held Friday rather than Saturday because of costs and securing the pyrotechnic company. Attendance was not hampered by selecting the federal holiday over the actual one.