Marvin and Patsy Chester have attended Seneca’s annual fireworks show “ever since they’ve been putting them on.”

Which means decades.

By late Saturday afternoon, the couple from rural Seneca already had their lawn chairs set up in the middle of the large open field at the fireworks site on the north edge of town, waiting on the five live bands that would precede the light show at 9:45 that evening.

Arriving early meant not only catching the stage music, but also beating the expected thousands of people that would soon stream in. It also meant bearing July’s hot summer sun. But to the Chesters, it was more than well worth it.

“I wouldn’t miss these fireworks for anything,” Marvin said, wiping a bead of perspiration from his brow. “Some friends of ours don’t live here anymore and they told us how they hated to miss this because these are the best fireworks they’ve seen anywhere. And this year is supposed to be the best yet, from what I hear.”

Billed as the “biggest fireworks show in the region,” organizers of this year’s Seneca Liberty Days extravaganza planned for anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 spectators to be “ooing” and “ahhing” over the explosive light display Saturday night.

And this year’s fireworks show was the largest put on in Seneca to date, according to Seneca Chamber of Commerce President Josh Dodson. Arranged by Premier Pyrotechnics, the fireworks actually set more than one record.

“The shells they’re shooting off are bigger than have ever been shot off in the 4-State Area,” Dodson said before the show. “In fact, some of the new ones they’re shooting off have never even been seen by the public yet. They’re brand-new (bursts) with designs in them. So we’re really pumped up and excited.”

The colossal fireworks display capped off what was also one of the more successful Liberty Day celebrations in general, as numbers go, held thus far in the city of less than 2,500.

Close to 100 parade entries rolled — or walked, or clip-clopped as the case may be — down Seneca’s main drag in the city’s annual 4th of July parade (held a day later this year).

Dodson didn’t venture to guess how many spectators were actually present, but noted that the crowd was lined up six-people deep along Cherokee Avenue (Main Street).

“I don’t know if more had to do with gas prices and people just not taking vacations as much this year, or the fact that we’ve put out a lot of publicity the parade this year,” Dodson said.

One factor that could be attributed to the high number of floats this year, is that parade entrants were given a $20 bounty to participate, courtesy of Bordertown Bingo and Casino. But Dodson said most of those taking part in the parade weren’t aware of the monetary incentive when they showed up.

“I just think people understand the celebration Seneca has, the crowds that we bring, and they just like to be a part of that,” he said.

Mid-America Goat Days won first place for their entry at the parade, Seneca 4th grade cheerleading squad won second place and third place went to the Seneca Little League All-Stars.

First place best of car went to Joe and Pat Hill, and the first place best of horse went to Paul and Elayne Nelson.

In the four or so hours between the morning parade and the live music that would lead up to the fireworks display, kids partook in outdoor games and contests on the grassy grounds of the Iva E. Wells Middle School.

Some of the activities included an egg-toss, tug-of-war, a jump-rope competition, a hoola-hoop contest, a free-throw match and much more.

As a kid, Tera Walker used to attend Seneca’s Independence Day celebration every year. Now she brings her own three kids, Britny, 14, Jacob, 11, and Hudson, 8.

After attending the parade and the daytime activities, the Walker family planned on settling down and watching the big fireworks show.

Even with other weekend events going on in the area, Tera said she brings her family to the hometown event because she feels at place there.

“You just want to be around people that are your friends and family,” she said. “You just want to be around the group that you know and are friends with. And that’s here in Seneca.”