Chelsea’s 2025 Citizen of the Year Helped Bring Fireworks Back

When Chelsea named Matt McKernan its 2025 Citizen of the Year, one effort stood out above the rest: helping bring fireworks back to the community.

The honor recognizes a specific, tangible impact made during the past year rather than serving as a lifetime achievement award, according to Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Terris Ahrens.

“Matt was chosen for bringing fireworks back to Chelsea,” Ahrens said. “It was his idea. He spearheaded the whole thing. It was his baby.”

For McKernan, the project was personal.

He said Chelsea’s fireworks were part of his childhood memories, even during years when his family lived in other states, because Chelsea was the place they kept returning to. After moving back and starting a family of his own, he wanted his children to have that same experience.

“So when I came back here and started my family, I wanted Brooks and Sloane to have that same awe-inspiring fireworks display,” McKernan said.

The first year of the revived event was held at Robin Hills. Last year, it moved to the Chelsea Fairgrounds, restoring a longtime community tradition after the event had been absent there for several years. McKernan said about 2,500 people attended the free event, and organizers expect even more people this year, with the next fireworks event planned for June 27.

Still, McKernan was quick to spread the credit.

“The sponsors made this happen. The volunteers made this happen. I’m just a guy,” he said.

Ahrens said that response fits the spirit of the award and the effort itself.

“Bringing something the size of the fireworks back clearly isn’t one person,” Ahrens said. “And if you asked him, he would say, ‘Oh, it’s a team.’”

Beyond the fireworks effort, McKernan also serves as a Chamber ambassador, is involved with the Chelsea Community Foundation, and the Rotary. Ahrens said those roles added to the picture of someone deeply invested in Chelsea, but the Citizen of the Year recognition stayed focused on the fireworks because it was one of the biggest community efforts in Chelsea this past year.

“It was something tangible,” Ahrens said.

McKernan said being recognized still feels a little uncomfortable because so many people helped make the work possible.

“Grateful,” he said. “You do things not expecting that.”

He noted he has tried to build his work around strong partnerships, surrounding himself with people whose skills and ideas strengthen the effort.

McKernan said the recognition will not change much about how he approaches community work. He plans to keep supporting the people, projects and organizations that help make Chelsea strong.

Featured photo: Matt McKernan stands near the city’s historic clocktower. Photo by Heather Finch