Lynwood Prepares for July4th Celebration

The following is a press-release from the City of Lynwood:

The thousands of families who have flocked to Lynwood City Park for the annual 4th of July Celebration in the past, can ready their blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets once again as the City of Lynwood gears up to celebrates Independence Day like only Lynwood can.

With nearly 8,000 people expected to attend, this year’s event will include a carnival and festivities that take place from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. The fireworks spectacular is scheduled to start at approximately 9 p.m.

The 2013 4th of July Celebration had been canceled last year due to budget cuts. This year’s 4th of July would have been the second year residents in the City of Lynwood were going to have to take their families outside of the City for a fireworks show. There were no 4th of July festivities in the City of Lynwood last year. But thanks to a proposal by the City’s new Greater Lynwood Chamber of Commerce to partner with the City to help finance the Independence Day Celebration, the City of Lynwood’s 4th of July festivities are officially back on and scheduled to take place July 4, 2013, from 3 to 11 p.m.

While the costs for this year’s event is half of the usual cost of the fireworks show, hosting a $37,000 event would have been too much to add to the City’s existing budget.  But thanks to the GLCC’s proposal, residents are getting back “their fireworks show,” said GLCC Interim President Edwin Hernandez. City Council Members back in May unanimously approved the GLCC’s proposal to bring back its annual 4th of July Celebration and Fireworks Show under the condition that the Chamber, along with the help of the City’s Recreation and Community Services Department, be the one to solicit donations and sponsorships to pay the $37,000 bill.

This partnership is the second partnership the City forms to bring back a community celebration without having to use City funds. Early last year, the City Council – also due to budget cuts – cut the 2012 Christmas Candy Cane Lane Parade. Under a campaign led by the City Treasurer’s Office to solicit donations and sponsorships for the City’s parade, the 2012 Christmas Candy Cane Lane Parade took place and was better than ever.

According to City Treasurer Edwin Hernandez, who is the GLCC’s current Interim President, every City should have a strong Chamber of Commerce as a backbone. “Chambers of Commerce from other Cities carry events like the 4th of July through sponsorships and donations so I don’t see why we can’t,” he said. “That’s how we were able to host our Christmas Parade, through sponsorships, and I believe we can make it happen again so that our residents and residents from nearby communities can enjoy the 4th of July right here in their very own City. Maybe it’s not going to be the $80,000 event that’s been hosted here in the past, but this year’s will be just as great.”

For more information, or to help sponsor the City’s 4th of July Celebration, call the GLCC at (310) 307-9826. Vendors for the 4th of July Celebration at Lynwood City Park are still being solicited. Vendor booths range from $300 for a food booth, $200 for a non-food booth, and $100 for a service/information booth. Call Mark Flores at (310) 603-0220 Ext. 353 for booth information.