Fireworks to return for 2026 Pre-Fourth

AFTON - Early plans for Afton Community Club’s 2026 events were discussed during a visit with the Afton City Council last Tuesday.

With plans being made early for this year’s Pre-Fourth Celebration, fireworks are back on the schedule after an excellent showing in 2025. Last year, the community club spent $4,000 on a fireworks show on the land between the Union County Fairgrounds and East Union School District.

Last year’s show was produced by Top Notch Fireworks, who work with other organizations in the Union County area, including for events in Creston.

The city noted that the land east of the fairgrounds, where the fireworks show is held, causes problems with city sponsorship as it is located outside of city limits. The community club brainstormed ideas for fundraising during Tuesday’s meeting.

Besides these plans, the community club had other requests. The club asked the city council to include in their budget the installation of permanent decorative lights on the gazebo and bandstand in the Afton park square.

During winter events, Christmas lights are hung by the community club in the square. A permanent installation would allow for the hardest part of the process to be much easier. The club offered to donate the lights needed for the project. The city approved setting aside funds in next year’s budget for the installation.

In other Afton city council news...

A solar-powered speed sign alerting commuters of their speed compared to the speed limit will be placed on Grand Street. The sign was funded by a grant awarded to the city and will be placed on the west portion of the street facing the East Union School District. Westbound traffic will have to slow on the hills in the area to accommodate.

A public hearing for the next fiscal year’s budget is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 24. Besides approving the city’s budget, the city expects UCDA Executive Director Mindy Stalker to discuss the Hometown Pride program during this meeting.

Afton accepted the rates from Southwest Iowa REC to continue using labor and equipment for maintaining the Afton substation. This includes quarterly visual inspection, annual substation equipment testing and other service requests.

The council accepted bids for sidewalk and street repairs on Fillmore Street. Additionally, the city accepted a bid for a section on the south end of Kansas Street in front of City Hall to be replaced.

The Afton Development Corporation will hold a citywide cleanup day on Monday, June 8.