'Rockets Over Rhema' Rain Down On Northeastern Oklahoma

The Fourth of July is still a few days away, but some of the best fireworks in Tulsa County were Sunday night in Broken Arrow. Every year, tens of thousands of people head out to "Rockets Over Rhema."

The fireworks started about 10 p.m., but in the meantime, families enjoyed an outdoor concert.

Rockets Over Rhema

Rockets Over Rhema is underway in Broken Arrow at Rhema Bible Church.

Bands have been playing through the night and thousands of people are turning out to see the fireworks to begin the early Fourth of July celebrations.

"We just sort of picked it up and began to go from there," pastor Kenneth Hagin said. "It's just grown now ‘til it's grown all over this part of the country,"

People from all over descended on Broken Arrow for another year of Rockets Over Rhema.

"Perfection for Fourth of July especially in Oklahoma," spectator Ethan Kearns said. "Low humidity. It's not too bad"

Families from all over are waiting for another large fireworks show this year.

"We love coming here," Matilda Bates said. "We come almost every year."

Bates and her husband are one of the many people out in the crowd enjoying the many bands on stage playing everything from heavy rock to guitar numbers.

"We look forward to just the vendors, the different vendors, we look forward to the fireworks, the different fireworks, of course," Bates said. "Just hanging out with different people, family, just mingling with everybody."

Behind the scenes, shells for the fireworks show were loaded in by the truckload.

"It's a lot of effort to put this thing on," crew member Cindy Bolling said. "You're seeing a spectacular show. We've got all kinds of stuff. It's about a 20-minute show. There's about 2,000 shells that will be going off, so there will be lots of stuff throughout the whole show. Then at the end, just expect a huge glorious blast."

It's estimated that Rockets Over Rhema will host 60,000 people at the display.

Broken Arrow Police shut down roads in front of Rhema to deal with all the traffic. If you're heading out between 8 and 11:30 p.m. avoid Kenosha or 71st Street - from Aspen to Elm Place.