File photo
Guests attend the Big Kaboom in 2018.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has cancelled many events in the last few months, the city of Chelsea is going to proceed with the biggest event of the year.
The Chelsea Fest and the Big Kaboom will take place on Saturday, June 27, at 5 p.m. There will be live entertainment and food trucks.
The event will take place in the grassy field behind the Dairy Queen. The area will be larger than last year in order to accommodate social distancing. The stage will be moved down to center up the area, but there won’t be areas people will congregate.
Mayor Picklesimer feels that a celebration for the community is necessary this year.
“I think it’s extremely important that we try to get our lives back to normal and the Big Kaboom in Chelsea for the fourth of July celebration is life back to normal,” said Picklesimer.
Chelsea businesses can set up booths this year at no charge.
“It is our way of saying thank you for the sacrifices they made during the COVID-19 shutdown," Picklesimer said. "It’s free for them to set up a booth and sell food.”
The food trucks will begin serving at 5 p.m. Nacho Daddy music will begin at 6 p.m. followed by headliner Trotline at 7:30 p.m. The fireworks finale will take place at 9 p.m. at City Hall. KOOL 96.9 will be simulcasting the music during the event.
Some of the usual activities that will not take place, include the bike parade, inflatables, face painting or t-shirts. Chelsea GIS Coordinator Gerri Roberts said that everyone responsible for their own social distancing.
“Hopefully, next year we can bring those back,” Roberts said.
Chelsea City Councilman Casey Morris is in charge of food trucks, and those confirmed as of June 8 include:
- Cantina on Wheels
- Bendy’s Cookies & Cream
- Frios Gourmet Pops
- Wimbley’s 32 Below
- Pazzo Big Slice Pizza
- Dixieland Funnel Cakes
- Whisker's Catfish/Good Ole Boy’s BBQ
- Hollywood Grill
- Chick-fil-A
- Cajun Boys & Our Poboys
- Tasso’s Kettle Korn, Lemonade, Shaved Ice and Citrus Juices
- Tee’s Cakes and Pastries
- Sunshine Lemonade
- Rodney Scott's BBQ
Applications for food vendors will be accepted through June 22.
“It will be a mix of Chelsea restaurants and other food vendors,” Morris said. “There will be more out of area vendors than local," Morris said. "Each food vendor is being reminded to encourage people to respect others' personal space."
The event usually costs around $50,000. Last year over $30,000 was covered by sponsorships but Picklesimer said there won’t be as many sponsorships this year, but some of the larger corporate sponsors will still be participating.
“I think it’s important we still have the event, and the city will cover what’s left,” he said. "It’s important for people to have a chance to get together. We can't hug each other, but we can wave and set up chairs and eat and watch fireworks and just be together.”