Boomsday!

Boomsday!
Location: Henley Street Bridge and surrounding areas


Boomsday is one of my absolute favorite things that happens here in Knoxville. Every year, I really look forward to "The Nation's Best Labor Day Fireworks Show," and it never fails to thoroughly entertain me. It really brings out the whole community of Knoxville and provides entertainment that Knoxvillians of every age can enjoy. It has become an annual tradition for me and my friends, and I can honestly say that in recent years I have looked forward to Boomsday more than I have the 4th of July.

Part of the reason I really enjoy Boomsday is because I love to people watch, and Boomsday provides a perfect atmosphere for that. The mix of people attracted to this pyrotechnic extravaganza is really an interesting hodge podge. I could sit off to the side and just watch the crowd go by for hours. Boomsday really attracts a variety of socio-economic levels. While I sit and watch the crowd go by, I can spot a variety of people ranging from rich suburban kids all the way to country hillbillies. It seems rare that you find one event that can attract such a diverse crowd of people. I can honestly think of very few other attractions that would draw in this same crowd. It's refreshing to be at an event that has no particular class association.


I also think that Boomsday is a really well-organized event. Considering the amount of people participating, the city handles all of Boomsday the best that could be expected. One huge factor in a crowd of that size is safety, and the Boomsday organizers make sure that there are enough police officers patrolling to ensure that. Although Boomsday is an excellently pulled-together event, there are some unavoidable setbacks that any major large even is going to face, such as traffic. Even before the fireworks begin, traffic is already backed up, and it only gets worse after the show. Luckily for me and other people living in the vicinity of UT, walking back to your apartment or home is almost always faster than attempting to get anywhere by car right after the fireworks. But the traffic congestion is not due to the poor planning of Boomsday officials. No matter the event, whether a football game or even a concert, traffic is always terrible when large numbers of people are trying to leave an event that took place near campus. The problem lies with the design of the roads in that area. Perhaps this problem could be somewhat alleviated if Boomsday were to relocate, but traffic congestion exists after any big event, no matter the location. Besides, Boomsday's location is perfect. It's purpose is to bring together Knoxville and the surrounding areas, and what better place to do that than in the heart of Knoxville.

The setting for Boomsday is somewhat cramped, although the space that is available is used as efficiently as possible. Vendors are set up all along Neyland Drive, and the fireworks can be seen from any vantage point along this road. One problem with this set up is that Neyland Dr. can get really congested and nearly impossible to even walk down. By about an hour before the show, the crowd has become so dense that there's no way to take a leisurely stroll through the Boomsday festivities. But this problem really can't be avoided, seeing as Neyland Drive can't be widened just for the sake of Boomsday...there's a river in the way on one side and a steep bluff on the other. Thus, the set up for Boomsday is really unchangeable, and they still manage to get the job done in the small area they have.


One really great feature of Boomsday was the more than sufficient amount of port-o-potties provided throughout the festivities. Bathrooms are crucial in any large event setting, especially one where lots of concessions are being sold. The organizers of Boomsday definitely provided plenty of bathrooms, and thus the lines for the port-o-potties were never too long. Although these portable bathrooms can seem a bit unsanitary at times, the area around the port-o-potties remained clean and sanitary throughout the duration of Boomsday. And in true Volunteer fashion, not only were the bathroom facilities ample, they were also appropriately school spirited.

The most essential part of Boomsday is that which the entire event is named for: the fireworks. Not only are they numerous in quantity, they are always immensely entertaining to watch. Shooting the fireworks off the Henley Street Bridge is an excellent planning move. That allows for maximum visibility of the fireworks, with spectators able to watch from both sides of the river. Setting the fireworks to music also adds extra pizazz to the entire spectacle. Although some elements of the firework show remains the same from year to year, the show never ceases to captivate and enthrall the entire audience. Fireworks bring out the little kid in all of us, and thus events like Boomsday will never cease to be a great success.