ADAMS TWP — The last 10 years have been a blast, but Jim Merkel and the volunteers who put on the annual fireworks show at Community Day are ready to hang up their lighters.

Merkel said this year’s display, titled “Thunderstruck: Final Fury” will be the last presented by the group.

Beginning next year, the township will hire a pyrotechnics company to do the Community Day fireworks.

Community Day will be held Sept. 10, from noon through the end of the fireworks, at the community park on Valencia Road.

“Every year you get a little older, and at some point in time you say, ‘You know, this might be a good place to say this might be enough,’” Merkel said.

He said this year’s display will include two tons of fireworks, compared to the 1,500 pounds used at the 2006 Community Day.

At that first display, Merkel had 15 to 20 volunteers from all walks of life to help with the show. This year 35 men and women will help put on the fireworks display.

“It’s grown exponentially and the crowds have become immense,” Merkel said.

For this year’s display, Steed Audio of Cranberry Township will handle the musical portion of the show and Penn Power has donated a large generator, Merkel said.

“It’s going to be a very high-energy final display,” he said. “We try to get people on the edge of their seats.”

In addition to having audio to go with the fireworks, Merkel’s annual display also includes vertical fireworks as opposed to those in the sky.

“They start at 5 to 10 feet off the ground and a lot of it is vertical,” Merkel said.

He credits his volunteers, all of whom joined the group out of a mutual interest in fireworks, for sustaining the effort for a decade.

“They’re the reason the show has gotten to the place where it’s been,” Merkel said. “We love them, the community loves them and certainly the fans who have shown up at the park have loved them for the past 10 years.”

Corry Bogdanich of the township parks and recreation committee said the usual fun will be available during the day at Community Day.

She said free food will be available from noon to 3 p.m. at the Rotary shelter. The fare will include hot dogs, pulled pork, fruit salad, ice cream, chips and other items.

After 3 p.m., various Mars booster organizations will set up booths with various foods, games and activities.

The stage by the volleyball courts, Bogdanich said, will be alive all day with music and various acts, including Weird Eric, who will do a story, magic and balloon animals for children.

The Mars High School Fightin’ Planets Marching Band and the Mars Stars Jump Rope team will perform on the stage.

Adams police and firefighters also will bring their vehicles and equipment to Community Day for perusal by citizens.

“It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the community and to get to know your neighbors, and maybe make some new friends,” Bogdanich said.