Lightning and fireworks lit up the skies in Checotah on the 4th of July but not before the Freedom Celebration had the mayor literally hopping.

Once again the City of Checotah went all out fortheir Freedom Celebration at the Checotah Sports Complex with over 28 volunteers, 10 employees and two city councilmen working behind the scenes for several days and nights to bring one fun-filled day of activities and the best firework show in the county amidst all the lightning brought in by a moderate storm that didn’t seem to deter any visitors.

The hot and humid day began with a 5K run and pancake breakfast with over 80 runners. Then a cornhole tournament went on for hours under the big top with many teammates trying hard to walk away with a new cornhole board set. Meanwhile, avid fishermen, young and old, did their best to snag the biggest catch in the fishing derby, though more turtles were biting than perch or bass.

So when it came time for the cardboard boat races, there were several competitors in the children’s division and the adults’ division who were ready to cool off. As they paddled, peddled and even floundered in the murky pond water trying to make it to the opposite side of the pond before their cardboard boat sank with them, a huge crowd cheered them on and  the adults’ division who were ready to cool off. As they paddled, peddled and even floundered in the murky pond water trying to make it to the opposite side of the pond before their cardboard boat sank with them, a huge crowd cheered them on and enjoyed watching the chaos from the shoreline.

However, after the golf games and tractor pulls, the real excitement of the day followed the children’s power wheel races of Barbie vehicles, small motor bikes and even a little tank. That’s when the real fun began with the adult lawnmower races.

It seemed that the excitement of the Mayor Daniel Tarkington running over Sports Complex Director Chris Brown last year was destined to be topped this year by Brown almost returning the favor when he accidently popped a wheelie on his revved up lawnmower, nearly running over Tarkington who was officiating the start of the race.

However, perhaps the most exciting and scariest moment came a little later during the modified lawnmower races when the mayor was accidentally clipped by his opponent, causing his mower to flip upside down with him on it.

As his machine went airborne, Tarkington slammed into the ground as the mower almost landed on top of him. City crew and concerned viewers rushed to his aid as he slowly returned to his feet, spitting blood from a possible loose tooth or busted lip. A few minutes later, he was feeling lightheaded and had to lie down so an ambulance was called to check him out before clearing him to return that evening to set off fireworks with his city crew.

“I enjoy sharing my passion for racing so when we first started planning the Fourth of July event, I wanted to start something different that most people would not see very often around our area. We started with lawnmower racing which over the past few years has changed a little. However, it was done from the influence and from listening to ideas of other people like Benny Durrett who had the idea for blindfold races. Andy Burnett also influenced the drag lawnmower race we did a couple years back. What our goal was to keep people on their toes and wondering what the City of Checotah will be doing differently each year. We have already started the conversation for next year and think you will all love what we already have planned. The plan is to top the three lawnmower races, power wheels, kids pedal tractor pull and cardboard boat races,” Mayor Daniel Tarkington said. “We will also go back to our original rule of always wearing a helmet when racing.”

For the surprise, Tarkington says you will have to wait and see.

Later in the evening, Shiloh & Going for Broke serenaded the sunburnt and soggy crowd, as Mother Nature entertained the entire packed out complex with her mesmerizing display of lightning. However, right before the show was to begin, a huge double rainbow appeared over the baseball field like a sign from the Man Upstairs that He was ready for the firework show to start– and what a show it was!

“The City of Checotah would also like to say ‘THANK YOU’ to all our sponsors for stepping up and helping make this 4th of July Freedom Festival such a huge success,” Tarkington said.

The whole weekend was filled with fireworks from Checotah to Eufaula and surrounding communities.

Eufaula’s annual show attracted a lot of spectators, but also had its fair share of excitement when the firework show had to stop midstream when a city truck with its dump trailer filled with trash caught fire. Though a fire crew responded quickly to put out the fire, many of the viewers on the lake and around the cove thought the show was over and so they packed up and left before the show began their second act.

However, for those who patiently waited, the show did not disappoint.