Thousands of families enjoy Edgewater fireworks

Headline Surfer videos and photos by Sera Frederick / Edgewater City Councilwoman Gigi Bennington talks about the Fourth of July crowd in the first video. The second video highlights the fireworks display. Below, 6-year-old Riley Wood of New Smyrna Beach sports his patriotic hat made partly from a newspaper. Upwards of 20,000 people attended the fireworks along Edgewater's River Road.

Riley Wood, 6, of New Smyrna Beach at the 2012 Edgewater fireworksEdgewater -- Riley Wood was decked out with a homemade Independence Day hat as he arrived wih his parents for the Fourth of July fireworks.

Asked if he made the hat," the 6-year-old New Smyrna Beach boy answered, "Yeah, with mommy."

Riley's mother said Wednesday's Fourth of July day was spent with a patriotic theme in mind.

"We did our little arts and crafts," Britani Wood said,"We had a barbecue and now we're here for the fireworks."

Britani Wood of New Smyrna BeachRiley's mother said Wednesday's Fourth of July day was spent with a patriotic theme in mind.

"We did our little arts and crafts," Britani Wood said,"We had a barbecue and now we're here for the fireworks."

 The Edgewater fireworks drew upwards of 20,000 people, many among them families like the Wood family of New Smyrna Beach. The nighttime celebration is attended annually by residents primarily from Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill, as well as smaller numbers from Port Orange.

Edgewater City Councilwoman Gigi Bennington said the 2012 fireworks show was dedicated in memory of Chad Wadsworth,  volunteer with the Edgewater Fire Services in his early 30s who died recently. His mother, Susan Wadsworth, was city clerk, and his father, Terry Wadsworth, was with the Edgewater city utilities.

Asked how relevant the Fourth of July holiday is in this community and to her personally, Bennington responded, "It's our Independence Day; it has a lot of meaning to me."

Edgewater Councilwoman Gigi BenningtonAsked how relevant the Fourth of July holiday is in this community and to her personally, Bennington responded, "It's our independence day; it has a lot of meaning to me."

Edgewater Towing at Edgewater fireworks.Neal Coats of Lil Neal's BarbecueNeal Coates, Jr., owner of Lil Neal's Barbecue of New Smyrna Beach was busy with spare ribs for a hungry crowd. The American flag was prominently displayed across River Road, thanks to the tow trucks owned by Myron Hammond of Edgewater Towing & Recovery.

2012 Edgewater fireworksHere is a still from the array of beautiful fireworks in the 2012 Fourth of July celebration in Edgewater.

There was no shortage of American flags on display and booths galore with soft drinks, ice cream and Lil Neal's famous barbecue ribs.

Then came the big show everyone came out for: the unmistakable sound of "Kaboom!"

Five years of exclusive fireworks coverage

When NSBNews.net was launched April 7, 2008, one of the first major community events covered by NSBNews.net was the 2008 Fourth of July fireworks in Edgewater. The 24/7 Internet newspaper, now under the umbrella name of Headline Surfer, covered its fifth consecutive fireworks show on Wednesday. That's five consecutive years of digital coverage, all of which are prominently displayed on the world wide web.

Here is a chronological timeline:

2008

2009 

2010

2011