By Staff
After 13 years hosting this community's Fourth of July fireworks display, Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce announced Monday it will not hold a fireworks show this year.
Generated by the Gulf War, a new surge of patriotism was felt in 1991, as
care packages were sent to military personnel serving in Desert
Shield/Desert Storm. That same year, communities across the nation
celebrated the end of the conflict with stepped-up or newly-established
fireworks displays that Fourth of July.
Chamber of Commerce announced it would serve as a homefront donation site
for monetary donations and items that could be used in care packages. Later
in the year, the Chamber announced a $5,000 to $7,000 fund-raising campaign
for that year's new fireworks display."
With the exception of the fireworks show that was sponsored in 1985 by the
former Big Wheel department store, during the 1980s Dowagiac had not seen a
fireworks display.
Since taking on the challenge in 1991, the Chamber of Commerce had taken
various approaches to raising the funds to host the fireworks display and
related program costs that included advertising and liability insurance.
During the early years, the Dowagiac Men's Golf League donated proceeds from
its Firecracker Open, which during the first year was combined with
donations the Chamber received from 50 businesses, fellow community
organizations and individuals. In later years, the Chamber teamed up with
Pizza Hut to host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser, proceeds of which were
combined with on-site gate donations the night of fireworks.
McDonald's later stepped up to the plate, donating to the Chamber of
Commerce profits from the sale of its coupon booklets, which were sold by
Chamber volunteers. Phillipson said more recently the collection of gate
donations gave way to the organization selling glow-in-the-dark necklaces
the night of fireworks. These funds were then combined with the proceeds
the Chamber earned from its Mini Grand Prix, which was held during Fun Fest.
earn a majority of the funds it needed for fireworks a year in advance,"
said Kent Clark, owner of Big Buoys Toys, who chaired both the grand prix
and fireworks programs since 1999.
country, it became increasingly difficult to attract enough race
participants to the Grand Prix, whose participation fee of $200 was applied
to our fundraising efforts for fireworks," Clark said. "As such, what had
once been a successful formula was no longer working."
As the Chamber made its announcement this week, Clark wanted to take another
opportunity to again thank the businesses that sponsored drivers in the
go-cart races that have been run since 2000. "Their help was instrumental
in making the race a success and in bringing the fireworks display to the
public."
While fireworks will be discontinued, the Chamber is hopeful it will be able
to continue the Mini Grand Prix.
core of community and business volunteers, such as Kent and his crew,
devoted not only their holiday to bringing a fireworks display to Dowagiac,
they also devoted many hours of volunteer time in advance of the show,"
Phillipson said. "More importantly, while Chamber of Commerce volunteers
worked feverishly to raise these funds, we found that our non-profit
organization was competing with other groups that were capitalizing on this
event by charging the public to park their vehicles, or by selling similar
products at the fireworks display. While this continued for several years,
when we suffered a $3,000 setback last year, our decision to step away from
fireworks became much easier to make. Unfortunately, by itself, the Chamber
simply cannot continue to keep this wonderful event afloat."
year, we will see another organization step up to the plate to take over
this program," Dowsett said. "Should that be the case, we will certainly
assist the next group by providing them with information on fireworks
vendors, as well as our contacts for liability insurance. In the end, it's
our hope the Grand Old City will continue to enjoy a fireworks display."
While it appears a fireworks show will not be held this year at the Dowagiac
Municipal Airport, local residents can enjoy fireworks this Fourth of July
at Sister Lakes, where fireworks and the Big Foot Path 4th of July Parade
are scheduled for Saturday, July 2, at 5 p.m., hosted by the Lions Club and
Sister Lakes Business Association. Fireworks at Sister Lakes will follow at
dusk. In case of rain, the show will be held Sunday.