Great Bend City Council
Week of March 27, 2026
Council rejects fireworks for Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt
Great Bend Fire Chief Brent Smith warns grass fires likely during Easter event
High winds cited as concern for grounded Easter pyrotechnics
Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt expected to draw hundreds
Unused Easter fireworks could move to Fourth of July
Great Bend Recreation Commission representatives Chris Umphres and Megan Hammeke address public confusion over Easter fireworks
Council rejects fireworks for Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt
GREAT BEND, Kan. — The Great Bend City Council voted 3-2 against a request from the Great Bend Recreation Commission to host a fireworks display during its annual Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt. The seven-minute show, handled by Victory Pyrotechnics & Special Effects LLC, was originally scheduled for 9:15 p.m. March 28 at the Great Bend Sports Complex on McKinley Street but will no longer take place.
Great Bend Fire Chief Brent Smith warns grass fires likely during Easter event
GREAT BEND, Kan. — Prior to the council's vote, Great Bend Fire Department officials anticipated the Easter egg hunt's fireworks would likely ignite small grass fires at the Great Bend Sports Complex. Noting that low-altitude, ground-level displays have previously been associated with minor fires, Great Bend Fire Chief Brent Smith told the Great Bend City Council he had no doubt the grass would catch on fire, though he had been confident his crews could contain any flames before they reached a nearby city shop or residential areas to the north.
High winds cited as concern for grounded Easter pyrotechnics
GREAT BEND, Kan. — Forecasted 15 mph winds, with gusts up to 25 mph, contributed to the safety concerns regarding the now-canceled March 28 fireworks display. At 15 mph, operators typically tilt launch tubes to compensate for wind drift, but Great Bend Fire Chief Brent Smith warned the council that 25 mph gusts represent a challenging threshold for executing the low-altitude show safely without exacerbating ground fires.
Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt expected to draw hundreds
GREAT BEND, Kan. — The Great Bend Recreation Commission expects roughly 400 children, plus their parents, to attend the flashlight-themed Easter egg hunt at the Great Bend Sports Complex. The $5-per-child community event, now in its fourth year, will proceed at full capacity on March 28 despite the city council's cancellation of the supplementary fireworks display.
Unused Easter fireworks could move to Fourth of July
GREAT BEND, Kan. — Following the city council's rejection of the March 28 pyrotechnics, the Great Bend Recreation Commission will save the unused explosives for a future event. Great Bend Recreation Commission Executive Director Chris Umphres confirmed the prepaid fireworks are entirely reusable — provided the wires have not yet been hooked up on site — and suggested they could potentially be added to the city's Fourth of July celebrations.
Great Bend Recreation Commission representatives Chris Umphres and Megan Hammeke address public confusion over Easter fireworks
GREAT BEND, Kan. — Acknowledging public comments questioning the connection between fireworks and the Easter holiday, Great Bend Recreation Commission Executive Director Chris Umphres and Aquatics, Adaptive and Enrichment Director Megan Hammeke clarified to the Great Bend City Council that the display was simply an entertaining addition. Organizers noted the seven-minute show had been added to the program three years ago to enhance the gathering and offer exciting new activities for local families, though it will not proceed this year.
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