Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
FEEDING THE FIRE
Fireworks accomplished, GoFourth! organizers still short of funds
You asked for them, you got them, and now it’s time to pay for them.
They’ve been a long time coming, but fireworks finally returned to Pottstown’s signature Fourth of July celebration Wednesday night, fending off a thunderstorm to create a little thunder of its own.
The weather was hot but clear for the parade down High Street and for much of the GoFourth! Festival which featured bands, beer and bubbles among other entertainments.
But as the afternoon wore on, the sky darkened and a forecast that gave 99 percent chance of rain seemed to have once again cursed the efforts to set fire to the sky for the Fourth of July.
Despite the rain beginning while it was still light, the organizers held fast and moved the time for the show up to “9 p.m. sharp” as they announced on Twitter and their Facebook page.
“We were worried about the weather, no question. But Russell Lawrence, from International Fireworks told us that unless there’s a flood or lightning, the show will go on, so it kind of took the decision out of our hands,” said Amy Francis, one of several organizers who staged this year’s second annual GoFourth! Festival.
The entire day, from parade, to festival to fireworks was a
“The whole community really seems to have signed on with this festival, now that we brought back the fireworks.” Amy Francis, GoFourth Festival organizer
success, Francis said. “The whole community really seems to have signed on with this festival,” said Francis, adding after a moment’s pause a chuckle, “now that we brought back the fireworks.”
“Really, I like the festival just as much — the food, the inflatables, Grandpa Bubbles, it’s great. Heck, I think the music festival by itself makes it all worth it,” she said.
But what it’s worth and what it costs are not always the same thing.
Between the regular costs of staging such a festival, and the much higher insurance cost of an event that comes with including both beer and fireworks, the day’s festivities are still about $5,000 short of the finish line.
“Overall, the costs were about $66,000 to $67,000 and we want to start fundraising for next year right away, so it would be great if we could close out the books on this year’s event,” Francis said.
Tax-deductible donations can be made by donating online at PottstownGoFourth.org or by sending a check made payable to the TriCounty Community Network (TCN), with “Attention: GoFourth” as the memo.
Checks should be sent to Pottstown GoFourth! Festival, PO Box 1362, Pottstown PA 19464.
“Everyone seemed to have a really good time and we want to gear up for next year right away,” said Francis. “We want to do a fundraiser in the fall, we’re going to do one at holiday time, we really need the community to help support this event.”
Another organizer, Amy Brangaccio-Wolf, said she is already amazed by the support organizers have received.
“It is amazing and really overwhelming to see how the community came together for this event: our generous sponsors and individual donors making donations at all levels ranging from $10 to $5,000; committee members and volunteers donating their time and talents; attendees coming out to support the event and having fun while supporting our food, craft and community vendors; local businesses donating their services,” said Brangaccio-Wolf after she and a group of those volunteers had spent some time in the sweltering sun cleaning up Memorial Park in the aftermath of a festival and fireworks.
There are also those who work at the event to thank, she said.
“We’d also really like to thank International Fireworks, the Borough of Pottstown, the Pottstown Police and Fire Departments, the Fire Police, Goodwill Ambulance, Pottstown Parks and Rec, and Omega Security for all of their help and guidance in the planning and execution of the event and for keeping everyone safe. There are really so many people to thank — it truly does take a village!” said Brangaccio-Wolf.
“And I have to say, none of this would happen without a core group of volunteers who really take ownership of this event,” said Francis. “And we really do need more volunteers.”