$10,000 Shortfall Puts Fourth of July Fireworks in Jeopardy

It just wouldn't be the Independence Day without an appropriately bold display of pyrotechnics, and Sonoma's fireworks display, produced by the Sonoma Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association following the city's parade, are a 40-year Sonoma tradition.

But a recession-fueled drop in donations has placed the annual event in jeopardy.

"It’s a hard time for everybody, it’s not an easy thing to do to donate money all the time," said Joe Boldt, a member of Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority, who has run the event's pyrotechnics for 13-years. "The city is growing, and the cost of the show goes up every year from our provider – if we don’t stay on top of our donations than the show’s just gonna get smaller and smaller."

It costs a minimum of $40,000, raised entirely from community donations, to purchase fireworks for the event. The association reduces costs by producing the event themselves, with trained volunteers and Boldt, who is licensed to operate pyrotechnics – a 10-year training process.

Though the association began soliciting donations last June, the funding halted at $30,000, $10,000 short for this summer’s goal.

“If the donations don’t keep coming, yeah it could be canceled,” said Boldt. “Because it is all donation funded, if the donations aren’t there we can’t have a show.”

With the current budget the group can fund about 800 shells rather than the usual 1,200 to 1,400 - which amounts to a 15-minute show rather than the usual 30-minute affair.

Regardless of price, the show will go on – for now. So keep an eye out after sundown at the Vallejo home: much like our Independence, even a subdued display will still make its mark.

Want to support the fireworks display? Donate online or send a check to the Sonoma Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association at 630 Second Street West, Sonoma, CA 95476.