Provo's day glows red, white, blue

PROVO — Night seemed to turn into day.

Colorful bursts of fire exploded in the sky Friday over LaVell Edwards Stadium to draw a glorious end to the Stadium of Fire, the main event of America's Freedom Festival at Provo.

And folks didn't even have to buy tickets. An expected 150,000 people packed the streets of Provo to witness explosion of fireworks.

But the sold-out crowd of 50,000 witnessed the light show — and a much-debated appearance by talk-show host Sean Hannity, whose afternoon show on KSL Newsradio 1160 draws huge numbers in Utah — from the comfort of stadium seats.

The selection of right-wing Hannity as the event's host sparked a war of words in Utah — and raised questions about whether the festival was too partisan in favor of Republicans.

But at the event, his detractors weren't seen or heard.

Hannity, who also led the "Freedom Pledge" at the grand parade Friday morning, received only cheers from the crowd at the Brigham Young University stadium.

Organizers of the parade hoped to set the record for staging the largest-known simultaneous recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

"It's clear why I love Utah," Hannity said Friday night. "God, faith, family, country."

The controversy over Hannity started when a group of 24 people blanketed Utah newspapers with letters to the editor, saying that Hannity was a poor choice for the festival.

After the letter appeared, the Deseret Morning News received a slew of letters both supporting and decrying Hannity's scheduled appearance at the annual Independence Day concert and fireworks show.

"My view is Hannity is polarizing," said Louis Pope, one of the 24 who signed the first letter. "He's so vocal and anti-Democratic on the radio that it seems like a Republican rally rather than a freedom rally."

Controversy is nothing new to festival organizers, however.

Last year, Stadium of Fire headliner Toby Keith put Utahns in a tizzy over a three-letter word in the lyrics to his anthem to Sept. 11, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (Angry American)." The crowd roared with delight when Keith sang the word.

On Friday night, the "firework competition" was a crowd favorite.