MEDORA — While the beginning of the patriotic holiday Thursday was rainy and rather dreary in most parts of southern Indiana, Mother Nature decided to part the clouds long enough to allow communities to celebrate the nation with pride — and not get wet while doing so.

The small town of Medora, population of just over 600 people, honored the history and the growth of their small-knit community with the fourth annual Medora Freedom Celebration organized and hosted by the congregation of Medora Pentecostal Church.

“Our vision as a church is to bring hope and build lives to this community that doesn’t have a lot,” said Tim Gill, lead pastor of the church. “This is a community and it melts my heart when the people say ‘these are our fireworks’.”

Tim’s wife, Faythe Gill, said the event has grown since the first one in 2021. From 600 attendees the first year to a record number 1,800 attendees the following year. While rain has been a factor for attendance the last two years, Faythe said they still have a great turnout.

With the celebration taking place in Medora Town Park nearby residents were able to view the fireworks from their backyards.

“A lot of people around here will have their own cookouts at home,” Faythe said. “We like to say we provide the entertainment for your backyard barbecues.”

This year, all vendors were Medora-based and, for this special day, many provided the community with services free of charge. One company, A Plus Painting, donated their time and talents to have a room painted for the community.

Around 10 food trucks were present selling a variety of foods such as tenderloins, tacos, ice cream and snow cones to name a few. The church also gave away free concessions for the community to enjoy.

Thanks to the many area sponsors, the Freedom Celebration Committee was able to give the Medora Park Board a $2,000 grant to cover expenses to equip the park with Wi-Fi.

Faythe said because of this donation the local police department will have easy access to park security cameras. The Wi-Fi also will be offered to the public to host family movie nights, events or for students wanting a scenic environment to study.

“Thank you to our sponsors and the major help of the town marshal (Josh LePage) and fire department for keeping us safe this evening,” Tim said. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”

The church provided live music with the help of their youth and adult choirs as well as provide prize giveaways such as grocery and gas cards.

“We love seeing the community come together,” Faythe said. “Everyone will start to gather around once the fireworks begin and its amazing to see that in our community.”

Faythe said when she moved to Medora at the age of 12, the town held a firework show, but only men could attend.

“We are glad that we can bring something like this back that the town loves so much,” she said.

The nation’s freedom from Great Britain wasn’t the only celebration for Vicki Dean, it also was her 75th birthday.

“It is just absolutely wonderful having my birthday on this holiday,” she said. “I am very patriotic and I love that it is in the middle of the summer. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Some of the gifts she received included a cheesecake from one of her grandchildren and a candle from the kids at her local church, however, she said the best gift of all was hearing from all 11 of her grandchildren.

“Memories make the best birthday gifts,” she said.

To cap off the evening as the sun began to disappear behind the trees, Straight Shooters Fireworks provided a firework show the town will not forget.