Published: June 30, 2008 07:18 pm            

Keeney: Plans underway for possible SomerBlast III

Somerset — An early evening storm wasn’t enough to dampen the mood during the second annual SomerBlast Saturday, and numerous people lined up on surrounding roads for miles just to catch a glimpse of the fireworks display that marked the end of the day.

Jack Keeney, the director for the Somerset-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce, said an estimated 20,000 people attended the celebration despite the storm cell that temporarily halted musical performances and pushed back the end of the day’s events.

“”It was just wall-to-wall people,” Keeney said about the crowd that flooded SomerSport Park to watch the bands Shenandoah and Country Crush play after the storm.

Keeney said the day started off perfectly with a prayer breakfast at East Somerset Baptist Church, and over 45 vendors were at the park for the community to enjoy.

“It was a great collection of foods and activities,” he said.

Local bands Omega Plague and Brother Stone performed on time in the early afternoon, along with gospel group the Dixie Melody Boys.

“They just did an awesome job,” Keeney said.

The Dove Brothers, the second gospel band, was forced to cut their performance short because of the approaching storm.

“We had to shut that down,” Keeney said. “Everyone took shelter,” many at East Somerset Baptist Church across the road from the park.

After the storm passed, Country Crush took the stage sometime after 8 p.m., and local band Live Fish and headliner Shenandoah followed.

Keeney said just as many if not more people filtered into the park after the storm as their had been before the inclement weather.

“Man were there people coming in,” he said.

The fireworks display, scheduled to begin at around 10:05 p.m., didn’t start until around 11:30 p.m., but Keeney said the show was a “spectacular” one.

“Cars were lined up as far as you could see on (Ky.) 80 and (U.S.) 27,” he said.

Keeney also said local authorities didn’t report any incidents during the event, and that the rain didn’t turn people away from a celebration that even included skydivers.

“The rain was just a hiccup in the day’s events,” he said.

Keeney said SomerBlast was a success because of its sponsors and the local community.

“This (SomerBlast) was made possible by the local community getting behind it and supporting it,” Keeney said. “And they did that with flying colors.”

“Plans have already started for a possible SomerBlast III,” he finished.

        

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