FREDERICKTOWN — The village of Fredericktown held a celebration on the Fourth of July, complete with swimming, fishing, food, and, of course, fireworks.

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“This is the 25th year for the fireworks,” said Park Director Bill Whaley of the Fredericktown Recreation District. “Not too many communities can say that.”

Many families make the Fredericktown event, held each year on July 4 at the Fredericktown Community Park, a traditional family get-together.

“We’ve been coming to this same spot for 14 or 15 years,” said Terry Grennell as she worked at a grill, cooking chicken for the 30 or so family members who gathered this year.

Grennell said several branches of the family have joined the tradition over the years, and the numbers each year range from 30 to 50.

The family planned to feast on all kinds of grilled foods, including fish caught earlier in the day by some of the younger members of the clan in the Kokosing River a few yards away.

Throughout the day, many families fished along the river bank.

melissa.raines@mountvernonnews.com