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STATUS OF HOLIDAY FIREWORKS IN AREA COMMUNITIES VARIES

Will other counties be having fireworks or Fourth of July celebrations this year?

Date published: 5/28/2009

BY MEGAN WILLIAMS

Fredericksburg isn't the only area in the region at risk of having to call off Fourth of July celebrations.

KING GEORGE and DAHLGREN

King George County will not be sponsoring the fireworks show at Dahlgren this year.

The fireworks were taken out of the budget last year and were not budgeted for this year or next year, said Tim Smith, director of parks and recreation for King George.

No other Fourth of July events have been planned for King George or Dahlgren, although the latter has tentative plans for a "Patriot Day" in September.

COLONIAL BEACH

Colonial Beach has been able to raise the $17,600 needed to put on two fireworks shows. The first will be on June 13 and is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce as part of the Potomac River Festival.

The second, sponsored by the town of Colonial Beach, will be on the Fourth of July.

"There was never any question as to whether they would happen," said Sherri Wilkerson, assistant to the town manager.

However, there was some question as to whether the June 13 show would take place. The town of Colonial Beach usually pays for the fireworks, but this year it was removed from the budget in February, said Carey Geddes, Chamber of Commerce president, and a "Save the Fireworks" campaign was organized.

Local businesses were e-mailed, events were organized and the $8,800 needed for the fireworks was donated within a month.

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY

Spotsylvania County will host its annual Stars and Stripes Spectacular the weekend before the Fourth, which will include all-day entertainment and a fireworks show that evening.

There are fewer sponsors for the June 28 event, but nothing has had to be scaled down this year because of lack of funds, according to Pam Hudgins, special-events coordinator.

"We're cutting corners where we can and trying to be creative," Hudgins said. "We're asking for a lot of volunteers."

The $29,000 fireworks display will be funded by W.J. VAKOS Cos., according to Kathy Smith, public information officer for the county.

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Date published: 5/28/2009