Thumbs up: To the Cultural Alliance of York County, for hosting another patriotic display celebrating the founding of our country.

An estimated 20,000 people turned out for the 34th annual Fourth of July celebration Wednesday at the York Expo Center, enjoying an evening of free music capped by a spectacular firework show.

A total of 3,000 fireworks -- 1,500 pounds worth -- were shot 200 to 500 feet in the air over the heads families and friends who had staked out their own little portions of the Expo Center hours earlier.

Denise and Steve Plonk and their family actually set up a tent around noon and spent the day having a picnic while waiting for the show.

"The special thing is it's the one day out of the year that we all do something together," Steve Plonk said.

Mary Ann Winkleman, the Cultural Alliance's campaign director, said her organization's show is always well-received.

"It's a great community event for families," she said. "Even outside the center grounds, folks pull up chairs in their yards and they all enjoy the fireworks."

Thumbs up: Three firefighters and a fire official from York County brought home several medals from the Can-Am Police-Fire 2012 Games held recently in St. Cloud, Minn.

While the games are a competition, the gathering serves more as a chance for first responders from across North America to get together to have a good time and discuss aspects of their jobs.

"It's competitive, but you're really competing against yourself," said Lyle Cosner, a firefighter with York Area United Fire & Rescue. "It's competition but it's fun."

And it's also coming to York County in 2014.

Local firefighters are preparing to host the event in two years -- which they might take a little more seriously.

"We don't want anyone coming on our turf and showing us up," said Scott Little, also a firefighter with York Area United Fire & Rescue.

Little and Cosner, as well as York City Fire/Rescue's Mike Anderson and Dick Halpin, director of York County Fire School, were the local medal winners in Minnesota.