48. 20,000 strong attend Edgewater Fourth of July fireworks

Headline Surfer videos/photos by Sera Frederick / Thousands enjoy Edgewater's July 4th fireworks off Riverside Drive.

Edgewater -- 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 the 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 patriotic celebration comes in at No. 48 in Headline Surfer's countdown of the top 100 local stories of 2012. 

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."

 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."

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."

Neal 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.

Here 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!"

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