Fourth of July Displays May Fall Victim to Economy

The price of a gallon of gasoline has topped $4.05, and the cost of everything else from food to clothing is following suit. It costs more to buy food, to buy durable goods and to simply drive to the store to do the buying. Consumers have seen this economic effect snowballing for months and now it is threatening a staple of summertime festivities: the Fourth of July.

The main event of most Fourth of July celebrations is, of course, a fireworks display that lights up the sky in colorful celebration of American independence. As the economy plunges downward and costs shoot upwards like an out of control bottle rocket, already expensive fireworks displays are moving out of the "expensive luxury" into the "unaffordable" category for cash-strapped municipalities.

One such community, the city of Cocoa Beach, Florida, has been forced to cancel its traditional ocean-side firework display citing an overly strained budget. With a price tag of nearly $70,000-including rental of barges for the display-city manager Charles Billias says that Cocoa Beach simply can not afford to put on the show. With no other alternatives, the city decided to scrap its plans for a half-hour long Fourth of July blowout. Next year's celebration may also be in question, as prohibitively high fuel and transport costs are expected to put the festivities further out of reach.

Other Central Florida displays, such as Altamonte Springs Red Hot and Boom, are also feeling the impact of the faltering economy. Costs for the massive Independence Day display, including appearances by superstars such as Jessica Simpson, easily top the $100,000 mark and would be out of reach if the city were left to fund the event out of its own pocket. With heavy corporate sponsorship picking up the bulk of the tab, though, Central Florida's largest Fourth of July celebration will take place as scheduled on Thursday, July 3^rd.

Like the ongoing economic problems, the threat of fireworks cancellations is not limited to the state of Florida. The small city of Katy Mills, Texas, recently announced the cancellation of its own display due to a lack of funds. In addition to the municipal investment, Katy Mills also relies on private donations to fund its Fourth of July festivities. Because its residents are being forced to tighten their own belts in the face of $4.05 gasoline, donations toward the celebration have dwindled to less than one fourth of the overall cost, putting fireworks decidedly out of the question.

Katy Mills-based Warehouse Pool Supply, though, stepped in to save the day. With a generous private donation of $15,000, the local swimming pool company managed to turn around the decision and save the Fourth of July. With a tight budget facing most Americans this Independence Day, Warehouse Pool Supply is now seen as somewhat of a local hero: Local blogger Helen Eriksen quoted Katy Mills city secretary Missy Bunch as saying, "It's amazing that someone was able to do this."

Throughout the United States, Americans will be celebrating this Fourth of July with fireworks, cookouts and small-town festivals. In cities fortunate enough to host a professional display, the party might be a little smaller than in years past. In towns unable to afford the expense of pyrotechnics, residents may be quietly celebrating with backyard cookouts and firecrackers. All of these celebrations of American independence, though, will be overshadowed by the climbing expense of gas, of celebrating, and of living in 21^st Century America.