Fourth of July kicks off with a bang at Lincoln’s Uncle Sam Jam

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The annual Uncle Sam Jam once again brought thousands of people to Oak Lake Park on Monday night.

With food trucks, live music and a grand finale fireworks show at the end of the night, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Jordan Brown said he’s been coming to the celebration for years, but this is the first time he brought his kids.

“They’re loving it,” he said. “They get to meet new kids, play around, so it’s a good experience.”

SEE ALSO: Lincoln experts share how to keep pets calm when July Fourth ‘sounds like a battlefield’

And it’s a blast for vendors, too.

This was Marshall Dogs’ first year at Uncle Sam Jam, so the owners went all-out on the decorations for the stand.

“That’s my wife’s doing,” Eric Marshall said. “‘She said, ‘Well, you’ve got to be festive if you’re going to go out for the Fourth of July,’ so she did all of the extra red, white and blue stuff.”

He said the most popular items were bratwursts and hot dogs.

“And it’s hotdog month, so what the heck?” Marshall said.

SEE ALSO: AAA, Nebraska State Patrol working to keep roads safe for Fourth of July

With the temperature reaching 92, the American Red Cross and the Lincoln-Lancaster Emergency Management Agency were encouraging everyone to stay hydrated.

They had a refillable water station and free water bottles.

Emergency Management Director Jim Davidsaver said it’s a great event to have fun, but safety is always the first priority.

“It’s one thing that people may not factor into their safety plan: simple hydration,” said Jim Davidsaver of the emergency management agency. “You’re having a good time, you’re worried about the fireworks. But again, just some things you can do to prevent a small problem from becoming a big problem.”

SEE ALSO: Lincoln Northwest boosters sell fireworks to help fledgling softball program

And the Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Department said the water bottles serve another purpose, too.

“Instead of just having bottled water that would get thrown away or recycled, these bottles can be filled again and again, and people can take them home,” said Erin Kubicek of LTU’s Watershed Management Division.

SEE ALSO: Don’t blow it: Rules for lighting Fourth of July fireworks in Lincoln