Festive Fourth events draw crowds to Putnam | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Fireworks explode over the banks of the St. Johns River in Palatka on Monday as revelers take part in the city’s Independence Day celebrations.
Parents watch as their children play on an inflatable bounce house Monday afternoon during Palatka’s Fourth of July festivities.
Fireworks explode over the banks of the St. Johns River in Palatka on Monday as revelers take part in the city’s Independence Day celebrations.
Danni Joy Kemper, 5, scales the rock climbing wall in downtown Interlachen on Monday afternoon during the town’s July 4 festivities.
Firefighters compete in the Battle of the Barrels during Interlachen’s Independence Day celebrations Monday afternoon.
People sit along the Palatka riverfront Monday evening as they wait for nightfall so they can watch the city’s fireworks display over the St. Johns River.
Six-year-old Izah Oshel slides down an inflatable water slide in Interlachen on Monday during the town’s July 4 event.

Putnam County residents enjoyed a day of fun events and pyrotechnics Monday as the area celebrated Independence Day with a bang.

Families gathered around Interlachen’s main square while a local band sang classic hits, volunteer firefighters battled it out in a traditional competition and people celebrated the Fourth of July.

Interlachen started its Independence Day activities around 7:45 a.m. with a bike race for kids 4-12 years old. Organizers said 10 children participated in that activity, and 56 kids came out for the 8 a.m. fishing tournament at Lake Lagonda.

People gathered at 9:15 a.m. to honor Interlachen hero Pfc. Robert H. Jenkins Jr. with American Legion Post 293 at the memorial park named in his honor.

The Jenkins family went on to win Mayor’s Choice in the Interlachen parade. Bethel Church won first place, the Jeep Club won second place and the Interlachen Town Council took home third place.

Children cooled off in the spray of Interlachen Fire Department water hoses or took a turn on the rock wall.

In the classic Battle of the Barrel competition, Interlachen Volunteer Fire Department Station 4 duked it out against Station 17 and took home the winning trophy.

Six-year-old Izah Oshel’s family, who were visiting from Iowa for a week, watched and snapped photos as he slid down an inflatable water slide with a big grin.

They have a few properties in Interlachen and Iowa, and some of them live in Nebraska. Andrea Oshel, Izah’s mom, also has two older children who wanted to come from Omaha, Nebraska, to visit Interlachen.

“They love it down here,” Andrea said. “They’re like, ‘Mom, everyone’s so friendly down here.’ … It’s not like this up North at all. Like the way people are here is just completely different.”

Independence Day celebrations also occurred in other areas of the county. Melrose residents started their morning with a boat parade, and Palatka joined in on the activities that evening.

People started rolling into the Palatka riverfront around 5 p.m. for food trucks, kids’ activities and live music. By 8:30 p.m., a mass of people had packed into downtown Palatka, with boats anchored in the St. Johns River to get a perfect spot to watch the Fourth of July fireworks.

“It was a fantastic turn out,” said Erin Hewes, the community affairs assistant for Palatka.

Children clutched in their parents’ embrace gasped as the fireworks lit up the night sky in a colorful display.

Hewes said the Palatka event was a success, especially since weather experts had predicted rain would dampen the festivities.

“The rain never came and the crowd started to build up before the fireworks,” Hewes said. “Everyone had a grand time.”