Lightning shone through the sky Monday night alongside the fireworks at Vicksburg’s annual Independence Day celebration downtown.

The show, set to begin at 9 p.m., was delayed about 15 minutes when rain began to pour over the Yazoo Diversion Canal, where a barge was set to launch the fireworks.

“We were in no rush to get out,” said Angie Newell, a Vicksburg native who attends the show every year and waited out the storm. “The fireworks are always just so pretty.”

Once it began, the city-sponsored show lasted about 30 minutes.

Lisa Burkhalter, who moved to Vicksburg nine years ago and has attended the fireworks show downtown every year since, waited out the rain on Washington Street looking over the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad Depot, where The Chill performed for two hours before the fireworks.

“We’ve even sat in the same spot down here for about seven years now,” Burkhalter said. “For a town this size to have a show this good is just wonderful. It was more than we expected.”

Other Independence Day celebrations on Monday remained dry across the city.

In Marcus Bottom, about 200 people milled about for an afternoon of music, singing and preaching at Bring Gospel to the Bottom, at Halls Ferry Road and Bowmar Avenue.

The Rev. Reginald Harris of Bright Morning Star Church said the day was perfect to host the celebration.

“When we look at our freedom on this holiday, it gives us the chance to also remember our freedom of religion,” Harris said. “This is just another opportunity to enhance the community.”

Red, White and Blues, sponsored by the Vicksburg Heritage League and Vicksburg Blues Society, aimed to bring blues performances to Vicksburg and had music downtown from 2 to 5 before the fireworks show.

The performances were the first time the Vicksburg Blues Society has been involved on the main stage in front of the depot.

“It’s important to have music downtown, and we want people accustomed to spending the afternoon down there,” said Shirley Waring, event coordinator. “We’re happy to have been a part of everything in bringing this event to the Fourth of July weekend. The talent was fabulous, and it was a good start to an event that can really grow.”