Soundtrack for Chillicothe fireworks ready again, now with local singer

June 30, 2024

Chillicothe — For more than 40 years, a local radio station has provided the soundtrack for the city’s Independence Day fireworks. Christina Wolford of WKKJ has again selected a mix of patriotic country, pop and classical music for the 2024 light and sound show.

She said she uses a variety of genres, but country music – the focus of 94.3 FM WKKJ – has more patriotic themes than most contemporary music.

Wolford said she works to make the soundtrack a little different each year. An added highlight this time is the national anthem, sung by a local singer… and princess.

Her days of festivals and beauty pageants may be over, but Ross County Idol winner McKenna McFadden (née Newman) was finally happy with her shoot with Wolford on Saturday.

McFadden said she started singing when she was four years old and is currently on her church’s worship team. She also sings the Star Spangled Banner at sporting events and books some gigs — but not at the moment as she is with her eight-month-old daughter.

McFadden says she is available on social media – Facebook, Instagram and videos. She promises to release more singing videos soon.

Wolford also spoke about other aspects of the fireworks show that she has experienced: improved traffic flow, more popular viewing locations and weather tolerance. She mentioned that $15 tickets to the town’s pool party with hot dogs, soda and chips should be available until the time of fireworks viewing — or until they sell out. The fireworks should begin at nightfall, around 9:45 p.m.

She recommends listening to the “terrestrial” radio station on 94.3 FM, not the internet feed. She says buffering often delays the web feed so it can’t be in sync with the broadcast.

Listen to interviews from both below. For details on the fireworks, see the Scioto Post article.

WKKJ has a website, a Facebook page, Twitter / X Account and web feed.