After more than four decades of coordinating and producing Wake Forest’s annual Independence Day Celebration, the Fourth of July Planning Committee is ready for a change.
That was the message delivered by Planning Committee Chair Rob Mitchell during last evening’s town board work session. Mitchell formally requested the town assume responsibility for producing the annual stadium program and fireworks display starting in 2018.
Scheduled each year on July 3, the fireworks show is the traditional kick-off to Wake Forest’s two-day July Fourth festivities. The popular Children’s Parade and Art & Games in the Park follow on July 4.
For over 40 years, the festivities have been organized by the Fourth of July Planning Committee, an all-volunteer organization currently comprised of 15 or so dedicated members. The committee met recently to discuss the future of the annual celebration. At the conclusion of the meeting, the attending members voted to maintain responsibility for the July 4 Children’s Parade and Art & Games in the Park but turn the July 3 fireworks show over to the town. According to Mitchell, the committee voted to enlist the town’s assistance due to the challenges associated with planning and carrying out such a popular event with a limited number of volunteers.
The board agreed to consider the request and will vote on the measure during its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 15.
3 Responses
Please just fix North Ave. it’s ridiculous.
This is a wasted cost for the city. There are many other offerings the city should be looking at before taking on fireworks display. What about city run track out camps, senior services, improved traffic controls, tree maintenance, improving or installing streets and sidewalks? Many other towns offer fireworks, no reason to duplicate shows offered elsewhere.
Before the town takes on this annual display that is a metaphor for failed diplomacy it needs to study the trend of many discontinued fireworks events around the country. . The reason? ‘Exploding’ liability premiums.