XENIA — The Kevin Sonnycalb Memorial Fireworks Festival is returning for a second year.

The City of Xenia and the Xenia Rotary Club recently announced that the ultra-successful event will again be paired with the city’s equally popular First Fridays to create one huge community event.

Both events will take place Friday, July 1, 2016 — the fireworks festival at Shawnee Park and First Fridays downtown. A crowd estimated in excess of 5,000 packed the park for the fireworks and related activities this past summer.

“The 2015 event was a great success and a testament to what this community can do when we all pull together,” said Brian Stephan, Xenia Rotary president. “The large crowd, the outstanding logistical support provided by the City of Xenia and the complementary activities offered by Xenia’s First Fridays made it an easy decision for the club to host this event once more. We thank our title sponsors, the Sonnycalb family and Greene Memorial Hospital as well as the City of Xenia for recognizing how important this event was for the thousands that attended this year and those that will attend next year.”

The fireworks festival is named in honor of long-time Rotarian Kevin Sonnycalb, a Xenia businessman and civic leader. Like this year’s event, it will include music, activities for families, the movie in the park, and end with a spectacular fireworks display.

First Fridays includes sidewalk vendors, food trucks, cruise-in, street performers, bouncy houses, bands and children’s carnival games.

“The City of Xenia is pleased to be a vital part of these events that not only provide a heightened sense of civic pride, but also showcases how well-positioned we are to work collaboratively and highlight this community as a desirable, affordable and safe place to live, work, and play,” said Xenia City Manager Brent Merriman. “Our Xenia police, fire and maintenance personnel will be on hand at the Fireworks Festival and the First Fridays celebration to keep Shawnee Park clean and safe for those in attendance.”