The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Fireworks to be part of Oct. 6 fair
PORTLAND » This year’s edition of the fireworks display will be held on Oct. 6 — the first night of the Portland Agricultural Fair — at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds.
Officials of the Fireworks Committee and the Fair Association hope by combining the two events, it will boost attendance and offer a bangup start to the three-day fair.
The decision was announced Tuesday afternoon during a press briefing in the town hall office of First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield. Joining her were Fair Association Committee President Don Bascom and Fireworks Committee Chairwoman Sharon Hoy. Officials said they
agreed to the joint venture only after being assured the fireworks will have a minimal impact on large animals — cows, in particular — that will be on site that night.
Portland has had very preliminary discussions with Cromwell officials about possibly doing a joint fireworks display in 2018. But Cromwell is not involved in the year’s display, Bransfield said.
The display as originally scheduled to be shot off in mid-July. But the prolonged rains of early summer turned the fairgrounds into a bog, and forcing a postponement, Hoy said Tuesday. “It was too muddy and the grass was too high because we couldn’t get in to cut it,” Hoy explained.
Officials had hoped to reschedule the display for this past Saturday, which was Portland Family Day. However, “We couldn’t get all the entities in place in time,” Bransfield said.
There was no display last year because fundraising had only raised a meager $9,000, Hoy said.
Fireworks Committee members and town officials were anxious to avoid canceling the display for a second year in a row for fears the two-decade-long tradition might wither away. And they got a double-barreled jolt, one positive and one not so positive.
Fundraising had brought in $18,000 by mid-August.
That was the positive note.
The less positive news came from the pyrotechnician who shoots the show. If the town did not hold the display by Nov. 27, he would have to charge the town/ committee $9,000.
“That was a real motivation, Bransfield said. “A $9,000 penalty is something we can’t tolerate, and so, a call was put out to the Fair Association.”
Bascom said the association’s board of directors met last week to discuss the idea.
“Opening night is the perfect time for the display,” Bransfield said, “because it’s a nice family event.”
The wristbands for children who want to enjoy the midway rides can do so at a reduced price on Friday night, Bascom explained. Beyond that, “It’s a good way to get people from other towns to come into our town,” said Hoy, who is excited about that possibility because, “We’re proud of our town!”
Even before the formal announcement was made on Tuesday, there were posts on social media expressing concern about the possible impact the fireworks display night have on farm animals at the fair. Bascom said he had conferred with Dawn Andrews, a farmer and chairwoman of the cow and dairy cattle event, about those concerns.
Bascomb said the fair it making efforts to reduce the strain on the animals.
“The band (performing on stage) will shut down and we’re trying to get the lights in the pull ring to shut down,” Bascom said. “We’re the last fair of the season so they will be used to being around people and noise,” Bascom said.
Andrews, who serves as superintendent of the cattle barn, “goes to all the fairs and she knows all the farmers,” Bascom said.
“All the exhibitors will be with their animals at the time of the fireworks to make sure everything goes fine,” Andrews said in an email Wednesday.
Bascom said Andrews told him “after the first three shots, the cow will realize no one is shooting at them” and they will relax.
“I also know other fairs have fireworks (the Goshen Fair, for one) and all the animals are fine with them,” Andrews said.
“Dawn said she has more issues at the fair with kids with balloons and with kids running the length of the barn at the cows, who think they are under attack, Bascom said.
“They have to put up with thunderstorms,” Hoy interjected.
“The fair has shot fireworks in the past,” Bascom said.
That was when Police Officer Michael Dakus, whose family owns a fireworks company in Durham, began the tradition,
“The fair has had fireworks in the past and there weren’t any issues then,” Andrews said.
Fireworks “are of more concern for the smaller animals: goats, lambs and chickens,” Bascom said. Andrews “has suggested exhibitors of small animals wait until Saturday morning to bring their animals to the fair,” he said.
“Most of our exhibitors are 4-H’ers or alumni and they have been trained to handle different situations,” Andrews said.
Hoy is also excited because the fair will have the lighting, the toilets and the town’s emergency services in place.
“This is a real concerted effort and I think it’s going to be fabulous!” Hoy said.