July 4 fireworks decision reviewed

Mount Dora is reconsidering its decision to cancel the July 4th fireworks after appeals from merchants and residents.

The annual fireworks display over Lake Dora draws more than 20,000 people to the town, but the event was canceled last month because of concerns over large crowds during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mayor Cathy Hoechst said she and other council members received many calls questioning that decision.

People said “that we are still seven or eight weeks away from it, why were we making that decision, where was our patriotism,” Hoechst said at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Mount Dora, Clermont and Tavares joined other Central Florida cities like Orlando and Altamonte Springs in canceling July 4th fireworks. Several hope to hold them later in year, but a few cities, such as Leesburg, Eustis and Groveland are going ahead with plans, operating with social distancing restrictions.

Although the parade and fireworks on July 4 are not the largest events in Mount Dora, they would help merchants who suffered this spring after state-mandated closures.

“April was really, really hard,” said Lisa Winslow, owner of Home & Garden Treasures in Mount Dora, who gathered 59 signatures from downtown business owners and others. “The Fourth of July is a boost to us.”

Even without any financial impact on merchants, some argued the town needs the celebration after months of staying home.

“If it benefits the people of this town, we have to do it,” said council member John Tucker.

The council discussed ideas such as drawing circles on the grass to maintain social distancing, as some other cities have done, having people watch from their cars, setting fireworks off in several locations to disperse crowd or live-streaming the event.

A decision will be made at the June 16 meeting.