Thousands of people are expected to celebrate the Fourth of July with a $20,000 fireworks display at the annual Red, White and BOOM celebration Tuesday.

The popular event, free to the public, will be at the Wicomico County Stadium beginning at 6:30 p.m. and featuring music, foods, bounce houses and camaraderie in an atmosphere of Americana. Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m.

In case of rain, the event will be on Wednesday.

The popular Red, White and BOOM was created by local resident Mike Dunn, now CEO of the Greater Salisbury Committee, who, like most city residents at the time, was disappointed that the city didn’t have an annual Independence Day festivity. For the past several years he has organized it, but next year, it will be in the hands of Brian Nelson and Ryan Weitzel.

Dunn met them at a Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals event luncheon last fall.

“I threw it out there. I said, ‘Hey, look. Red, White and BOOM if anybody is interested. I think it would be a great thing for one of you young professionals.’  Both of them contacted me and showed interest,” he said.

The trio met in January to start planning.

When Dunn first conceived of the idea, he said, “There was no doubt in my mind that the community was ready again to have free community fireworks. Now, thousands of people come every year, 5,000, 10,000 people. They don’t have to be at the stadium. They could be at the Twilley Center, at the old Board of Education building. What matters is, no matter where you are, there are fireworks in the middle of your town,” Dunn said.

Again this year, Fireworks Extravaganza, based in New York, will present the 25-minute show, shooting fireworks 600 feet into the air.

“They will be launched from the old Salisbury Mall again this year,” Dunn said, praising the many community organizations for their involvement and Pohanka Toyota for its donation this year.

“It’s such a great effort with all the agencies in the community involved. We have an endowment with the Community Foundation,” Dunn said.

“I won’t be organizing it in the future, but I’m not ever going anywhere. With every breath I take, I will make sure Red, White and Boom happens.”