Rain can't dampen the fun at Fireworks on the Lake

A thunderstorm and a bird named Taco were the opening act for the fireworks display at Nathan Benderson Park on July 3. 

Fireworks on the Lake draws a huge crowd each year as the activities start four hours before the fireworks. There’s live music, bounce houses and two rows of food trucks and vendor tents. 

This year, there was also a thunderstorm that sent the crowd scrambling under tents. But not one child was unhappy under the tent with Taco. The lilac Amazon parrot hopped from shoulder to shoulder posing for pictures as if he was part of the entertainment. 

Parrish resident Lyle Pohlen said the 5-year-old parrot goes everywhere with him. 

When the storm left behind a double rainbow, the party was back on. Lines trailed from the food trucks, and sneakers littered the outside of the bounce houses. 

Before fireworks could light up the sky, the crowd was treated to a fiery sunset. As the evening went on, more and more people packed the lawn. 

Sarasota resident Jonathan Koltun was excited to watch the fireworks with his 4-year-old daughter Lily from the finish tower. 

He was also prepared after attending last year’s event. He avoided the roof because the stairwell could block the left side of Lily’s view, and he brought his own chair for the wait. 

Koltun gave his daughter a big kiss on the cheek as they settled in on the fourth floor staircase landing, which overlooks the entire park and provided a front row seat for the show.