[PHOTOSTORY 2: MOTION] Fun with Frogs at Firecracker Fest

 By: Jordan Cameron

Visitors converse in the shade during the Firecracker Fest at Mill Creek Regional Park. The annual Fourth of July event is hosted by the Bulloch County Recreation and Parks Department.

Visitors set up chairs and blankets before the start of Firecracker Fest. Many attendees arrived about an hour early to secure shaded spots and favorable views of the festivities.

Event coordinators testing musical equipment before a concert. Under the Sun was the first band scheduled to perform with many people eager to get a good view of the stage. 

A Wavee Shavee vendor serves refreshments to a customer. Food and concession vendors had steady business early in the evening as temperatures rose above 94 degrees Fahrenheit.

A child rides an inflatable slide in the Kid's Activity Field. Despite the heat, the Kid's Activity Field remained one of the festival's most popular attractions.

A child attempts to climb a greased pole in the Kid's Activity Field. Participants competed to see how high they could climb in a limited amount of time before the grease caused them to lose their grip.

Children ride an inflatable slide in the Kid's Activity Field. The area also featured water slides, bean bag toss and other activities for children throughout the festival.

Festival visitors play volleyball in Field 5. Adults remained active throughout the event, participating in volleyball, the greased pole challenge and services offered by vendors.

Members of Under the Sun perform on stage during the festival. Under the Sun is a six-member band that performs music from a variety of genres, including rock, country and pop.

An Under the Sun guitarist performs on stage during the festival. The band kept an energetic presence throughout its set, performing popular songs including "Life Is a Highway" by Rascal Flatts.

Elizabeth Sanford dances to music performed by Under the Sun. Many audience members danced, bobbed their heads and sang along while enjoying the performance from shaded areas near the stage.

Festival visitors attend the Frog Jump Contest in Field 3. Registration for the contest was free and began at 5 p.m., and the competition started at 6 p.m.

Avery Calloway participates in the Frog Jumping Contest. Participants brought frogs and toads to compete in one of two age divisions: 10 and under and 11 and older.

A Frog Jumping Contest participant chases a frog across the field. Contestants had a limited amount of time to guide their frog or toad as far from the center or as close to the center of the field as possible.

A Frog Jumping Contest participant struggles to keep up with his frog on the field. The frogs and toads entered in the competition varied in size, and some leaped away from their handlers during the event. 

Ashton Williams holds his bullfrog before competing in the Frog Jumping Contest. Williams showed off his frog to spectators while waiting for his turn in the competition.

Ashton Williams lets his brother hold his bullfrog. Ashton Williams received the award for the biggest frog entered in the competition.

Ester Calloway has her frog evaluated by Frog Jumping Contest staff after the competition. Frogs and toads were judged on the distance they traveled within the allotted time, while additional awards recognized specific characteristics of the animals.

Awards for the Frog Jumping Contest sit on display before the competition results are announced. Awards were presented for first, second and third place in both age divisions, with separate categories for frogs and toads.

Maxwell Token receives his award for first place in the 10-and-under toad division of the Frog Jumping Contest. Contest participants also received commemorative T-shirts celebrating America's 250th birthday.