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Medford's annual Red, White and BOOM fireworks celebration is moving to Central Point. The migration to the Jackson County Expo will mean better parking, expanded activities and easier access, officials say. The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County has been looking for a new site because the old location, the Harry & David field, had limited parking and there was concern that spectators' fireworks might stray onto the artificial turf at the U.S. Cellular Park 500 yards away. The Fourth of July celebration used to be held at Miles Field before it was demolished in 2004 to make way for a Walmart store that has yet to be built. The city of Central Point announced on Thursday it would contribute a $15,000 sponsorship from motel tax dollars to make the move a reality after meeting with the chamber, Expo officials and the 5 o'clock Marketing Group, the chamber's marketing agency. "We've thought it would be a neat idea for quite awhile," said Central Point Mayor Hank Williams. "We gave them some of our tourist money. I think it'll be a better place to have it for the whole valley." Fairgrounds director Dave Koellermeier said the Expo was an ideal venue for the fireworks show, with the potential to offer an expanded list of activities in coming years. Koellermeier said families could enjoy the event any number of ways, from "tailgating" in the parking lot of the fairgrounds or relaxing on the lawn of the Lithia Motors Amphitheater, with room for 5,900. "I think it is very exciting," Koellermeier said. "The fairgrounds will offer more space, more rest rooms, more parking. We're excited to be able to use the venue for something it will work very well for." Details for this year's Red, White and BOOM are forthcoming, officials said. Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]