Lightning storms take over 4th of July celebration in Mayo

Published 1:00 pm Saturday, July 13, 2019

MAYO — Last Thursday, Mayo residents and visitors gathered at the Edward Perry Sports Complex to celebrate the town’s annual Fourth of July celebration.

The cornhole boards were set up for the tournament, the waterslide was aired up and ready for fun, the concession stand was open and Lafayette State Bank’s tent was set up ready for the guests to enjoy the celebration. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had plans of bringing strikes of lightning along with a torrential downpour of rain and thunder to the celebration that began right as the festival was to take place at 5 p.m.

First came the rain, which started at a drizzle before turning into thunderstorms that echoed across the Edward Perry Sports Complex. It didn’t take long for the wind and lightning to follow right along behind the rain and thunder. The people took shelter under the pavilion, and the overhang of the concessions and bathroom building. Those who had vendor tents stood underneath them, while holding them down to secure them from the harsh wind.

As the lightning strikes got closer, it was determined that the fireworks were canceled with the hopes of being rescheduled later in the weekend.

However, it was discovered Friday that the fireworks were in fact ruined in the midst of the storm from the night before, so the fireworks ultimately were canceled indefinitely.

The Lafayette Activities Group met Tuesday afternoon to discuss the possibility of hosting a future fireworks display to make up for the loss of the 4th of July fireworks show.

The group and the Town of Mayo will be hosting the annual Pioneer Day on Oct. 12 and encourages everyone to come out and enjoy the festivities and parade.