This 4th of July is filled with firsts for Oak Grove, Missouri.
It's the first 4th of July celebration at Bent Oak Park, with a record number of workers and volunteers. It's also the first annual event since the devastating March 6 tornado.
"We're trying to make this where we all can come together for something fun as opposed to the hard work of elbow grease and helping one another," Scott Matson, Oak Grove Parks and Recreation Director, said.
There are signs of progress all over, from young trees planted to new windows where old ones were shattered.
The celebration was free and filled with entertainment from a hot air balloon, to face painting, bounce houses, live music and the biggest fireworks show ever in Oak Grove.
"We're hoping that we can turn the emotional side of it into a celebration from what we all went through in March," Matson added.
A school bus was set up to take donations for the tornado victims.
