The popping and crackling of fireworks can soon be heard at Athens Golden Eagles Stadium as a part of the fourth annual Firecracker Festival hosted by Reliance Bank.

The event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. with music and inflatable games and will end with a fireworks show that begins at dusk.

Proceeds from the event go to benefit Athens High School Band and Alabama Veteran’s Museum.

Event Coordinator David Savoie said most of the money raised through the event would be split between the two organizations. However, each group would also have separate fund-raisers during the event.

The band will be operating the concession stand and the Alabama Veteran’s Museum will sell T-shirts donated by Reliance Bank and operate another fund-raiser for donations.

Reliance Bank has already raised more that $1,000 through raffle sales for a grand prize that includes a one-hour hot air balloon ride, dinner for four at Applebee’s and a $100 savings bond from Reliance Bank.

Jackie Bickley of Athens won the drawing. Proceeds from that raffle will also go to the organizations.

There is no admission charge for the Firecracker Festival but there will be a minimal charge for the inflatable games and people will be asked for a donation to park.

Savoie said Premier Pyrotechnics will be shooting the fireworks and the show is said to be the largest in north Alabama. He said that Reliance Bank is putting a lot more into the fireworks show this year and have doubled their budget for it.

He said there is usually a good turnout for the fireworks show, but not everyone watches from inside the stadium.

“Its hard to get a head count,” Savoie said.

Premier Pyrotechnics has also provided a frequency for the show that will play music to go along with the fireworks show. Those outside of the stadium can tune into 101.9 FM during the show for special music.

Savoie said there would also be door prizes given away at the event and people must be present to win. One of the door prizes will be an i-Pod.

The Firecracker Festival begins at 5 p.m. with inflatable games for children and the gospel music group Sound of Grace; 5:50 p.m.-6:35 p.m. Dixie Blue Grass Boys; 6:40 p.m.-7:25 p.m. Piney Creek; 7:30 p.m.-7:55 p.m. Dustan Taylor; 8 p.m.-dusk Billy Ryan who recently signed with RCA records; and at dusk presentation of colors by VFW, National Anthem by Corinne Evans and Fireworks by Reliance Bank.