To quote a cheesy old TV character, we love it when a plan comes together.

That’s exactly what happened Saturday when several factors piled one on top of the other to create what was arguably one of the best, most well-attended Fourth of July celebrations our area has seen.

It seems that whenever there’s an outdoor event in our area – Christmas on the River and Freedom on the Rivers past – it’s either miserably hot or unbelievably cold.

Not Saturday. It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny with blue skies, and by the time the fireworks began bursting in the night sky, it had cooled down enough so that attention was on the fireworks, not hand-held fans.

The calendar made a difference this year. Because Independence Day fell on a Saturday, and most people celebrated the three-day weekend Friday-Sunday, the Fourth of July celebration came right in the middle of the weekend.

The river surrounding yacht basin was full of boats and people all weekend.

This year’s fireworks show fully lived up to expectations.

In all, it was one of the best Independence Day celebrations we can remember in Demopolis.

Our thanks to those who made this possible: Alabama Power, BankTrust, Cemex, Collins Communications, Foster Farms, New Era Cap Co., Demopolis Rotary Club, Robertson Banking Company, Verizon Wireless, the Demopolis Civitan Club, Rock Tenn and the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce.

These men and women provided logistical, financial and/or moral support in order to provide an evening of family friendly entertainment.

We’d also like to thank the boaters and spectators who flocked to and around the yacht basin to watch the display.

As long as these events are well-attended year after year, they will continue to grow and be a great thing in our city.