Fireworks at Tyler's Lindsey Park on Thursday night. (Tyler Parks and Recreation/Contributed Photo)

Lindsey Park in Tyler was packed Thursday for a Fourth of July celebration — complete with food, entertainment and fireworks — as it drew thousands of community members and out-of-towners.

“There’s so many things out there right now that are separating us and dividing us,” city of Tyler Recreation Manager Kandice Johnson said. “The fact that we’re able to bring them together…I think makes this celebration special and is what makes July Fourth special.”

The city’s annual celebration featured mini-golf, a flag hunt, a children’s parade led by the Tyler Police Department and a Kids Fun Zone with backyard games and activities.

The celebration also had an impressive fireworks show, which cost thousands of dollars. In response to previous feedback from attendees, music was added to enhance the experience, according to Johnson.

“We do listen. They might not think we do, but we do. So there will be music, patriotic music, national anthem, all that while the fireworks go on,” Johnson added.

The entertainment lineup included music by DJ Karlos and Liz Montoya. Additionally, a range of vendors and food trucks were on-site. People set up tents, and cars lined both sides of the road as crowds gathered for the fireworks show.

Johnson said she loves seeing families having fun together despite the heat.

She’s especially happy when people she knows enjoy the event she helped organize.

“Seeing the pictures afterward when you go on social media, and you realize everybody was at that event that I helped put on… That’s a good feeling,” she said.

First-time attendees like Chandler resident Pam Chaney and her family sought to create lasting memories, captivated by the grand fireworks and children’s activities. Tyler resident Jorge Herrera and his girlfriend, Lilly Neagle, set up a cozy spot to witness the spectacle up close.

The celebration also served as a platform for small businesses like Luna Antunez’s handmade and personalized pens and keychains, according to her mother, Areli Antunez. Luna gained exposure for her business, Made By Moonlight, and provided an opportunity for her to interact directly with customers.

“It’s the perfect opportunity for people to come together and celebrate from all walks of life,” Johnson said. “It is hot, but we can sweat it out together. It’s just another way for them to make memories.”