Fireworks will light up the sky over Slippery Rock Saturday night.

Mayor Jondavid Longo said this would be the borough's first Fourth of July fireworks celebration.

“Fireworks aren't a regular occurrence around here,” he said.

The display will begin at 9:30 p.m. and span about 10 minutes with fireworks by Sky King of Edinburg.

“It'll be right in the middle of the borough, so many people can enjoy them,” Longo said.

The fireworks will be set off just over the Slippery Rock Park. The park will also be open to spectators who will be able to put down blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the show all while social distancing due to COVID-19 concerns.

Longo said the fireworks were made possible through donations handled by the VFW Post 6231 and American Legion Post 393, both in Slippery Rock.

Larry Pifer, quartermaster for the VFW post and finance officer for the American Legion Post, said even with a short fundraising campaign, the groups were able to secure the funds for the display.

“We had a good support from the community in the fundraising,” he said. “Nothing was crossed over to the taxpayers.”

Longo said the event invite he set up through Facebook has received 37,000 views.

He said, “1,100 people noted that they were interested in or going to this event.”

Pifer said people have been excited about the fireworks, possibly because of the stress from the COVID-19 pandemic. He said both veterans organizations are focused as much on serving their community as they are helping and assisting veterans.

“It was an opportunity for the community in a time of hardship to bring up their morale a little bit, their spirit,” Pifer said. “We're quite active in the community here, and this is one more way to be a part of it.”

Longo said there may be more in years to come.

“(Next year,) we would like to grow this into a proper street festival and a July 4 celebration, to include vendors and maybe carnival rides,” Longo said.