Fireworks a No-Go for Norristown Independence Day Celebration

This year's Independence Day Celebration in Norristown will have a noticable lack of boom.

Due to a tightening budget and a lack of donations from the community, the annual fireworks display will not be held this year, according to Sandy Grubb, municipal executive assistant and co-chair of the July 4th parade committee.

The fireworks display had been funded through the municipal budget through 2011, when the municipality paid $4,000 of the $10,000 cost, according to a report by Carl Rotenberg at the Times Herald. The remaining $6,000 was raised through the business community that year, the report states.

In 2012, the display was paid for by the Bicentennial funds raised by the business community, according to Grubb. This year, however, the municipality has only raised $1,490, according to the report.

Instead, Norristown will focus on its other offerings, which will include a 5K run, an expanded Independence Day Parade, and concerts, amusements, and arts and crafts at the bandshell.

(Norristown is still looking for local organizations to participate in the parade. Interested parties can contact Sandy Grubb for registration info at sgrubb@norristown.org.)

The Celebration 5K run will kick-off the day's events at 8:30 a.m. at Norristown High School, followed by the expanded Independence Day Parade at 10:30 a.m. and events at the bandshell beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Here's the full list and schedule of planned activities for the Fourth fo July in Norristown:

Celebration 5K and Parade

7:30 a.m.  

• Registration for Celebration 5K Run at Norristown High School

8:30 a.m.

• Singing of National Anthem by Stasha Jackson
• Celebration 5K Run begins

10:30 a.m.

• Independence Day Parade begins at Airy and Dekalb streets. Will travel down West Marshall to Stanbridge and end in Elmwood.

Bandshell Area Events

12:30 p.m.

• Concert performance by "Old School" (through 2:30 p.m.)

1 p.m.

• Train rides, moon bounces, and more, provided by North Pole Amusements (through 5 p.m.)
• Frisbee Spin Art (through 3 p.m.)
• Party Faces by Celie (through 2 p.m.)

1:30 p.m.

• Judy Tudy the Clown (through 2:30 p.m.)
• Arts and crafts table (through 3:30 p.m.)

2:30 p.m.

• Caricaturist Dave Perry (through 5 p.m.)

6 p.m.

• British Invasion Tribute Concert (through 8 p.m.)

Additionally, there will be various vendors in the bandshell area, and the snack bar will be open all day. For further information on these events, call 610-270-0467.

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