Fortuna Fireworks Festival
Celebrate Independence Day a little early in 'friendly Fortuna' with some family Fun, barbecue, live music and Fireworks from 5:30 to 10:30 pm on Thursday, July 3, in Newburg Park.
The Fortuna Community has come together to offer something you don't get every day.
An evening full of low cost Family Fun at this year’s Fifth Annual Fortuna Fireworks Festival.
With generous donations from service clubs, businesses and individuals, Fortuna invites the public to celebrate Independence Day a day early with entertainment and kids’ activities, all without the usual festival price tag.
The Fortuna Fireworks Festival, in its Sixth year, has been hard at work planning and coming up with a way to offer this free event to the community. Everything for this year’s event, from the cost of the fireworks to the parking field, has been donated. It takes thousands of dollars to offer this event to the public and a whole city’s worth of support.
We are lucky to live in such a wonderful city. The dedication and generosity of the people of Fortuna bring the small town spirit out in a true sense of community
The out pouring of support for this event each year has been overwhelming. Donations ranging from $25 to $200 are coming in every day, and every little bit helps.
“It just proves that even in the toughest economic times people can pull together to put on an event that celebrates the true spirit of our American Independence.This event is about celebration with family and friends. It is not the biggest fireworks show in the county but it stays true to being a night of affordable family fun with that all American home town feel. We have chosen to leave out the commercialization and focus on creating an event that lets the kids run around and have fun while parents and grandparents tap their toes to good music and enjoy the company of their neighbors. ” says event coordinator, Tina Taylor.
Pyro Spectacular has again been contracted to do a dazzling light show after the sun goes down sometime after 9:30 pm. The clear sky over Fortuna should prove to be a spectacular spot to watch the show. Free parking is available off Rohnerville Road, just past Newburg Park in the Mora Field. The main parking lot to Newburg Park will be closed off this year for safety. Everyone is encouraged to bring your own chairs, blankets, or sit in the bleachers. Families are encouraged to bring their own legal fireworks to light off on the pavement and enjoy with friends. Organizers ask that all attendees keep safety in mind and only light fireworks or sparklers in the empty parking lot, not in the grass areas. With thousands of people sitting close together on blankets or in chairs with small children on the beautiful fields of Newburg park, we ask that everyone respects public space.
All kids wanting to enjoy the entertainment must be accompanied by an adult and have a parent or guardian sign a liability waiver in exchange for a low cost wristband that allows unlimited activities from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.
Wristbands are only $3 each to help cover the cost of the activities. They include several bounce houses, a rock climbing wall, clowns, balloon animals; the extremely popular kid’s ice cream eating contest and old fashion picnic games like potato sack races and tug of war. The Fortuna Fire District will be on hand with new activities and plenty of water for kids to participate in some free fireman style challenges.
You won't want to miss the fifth annual apple pie eating contest that will start at 7 pm. Businesses, service clubs and community groups will have an opportunity to sign up a representative to go head to head to eat a whole pie with their hands behind their backs for the title and a trophy.
Health Sports competitive gymnastic team will be doing high energy demos at 6:15 pm.
Ta-Dah Productions will be spinning tunes throughout the event. Then when night falls Ta-Dah will turn on the colored lights as a kick off to the firework show.
To fill your appetite in between all the activities is a Family Fireworks BBQ from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm put on by the Fortuna Fireworks Festival. All BBQ proceeds will help to pay for the Fireworks and event costs so plan to attend as your support is needed to help make this event possible!
BBQ plates this year will include your choice of tender, seasoned tri-tip or barbecued chicken, potato salad or chips, corn on the cob, watermelon and a roll. Prices will be $10 per adult. Come out hungry and support the event!
When the lights go out hot chocolate, coffee, candy bars and other snacks will be available for purchase at the Babe Ruth snack shack through the end of the Fireworks
The August micro~brew event, Hops in Humboldt have generously given a $2,500 grant towards the cost of the fireworks. The Fortuna Business Improvement District is helping the event with insurance. Wendt Construction is sponsoring the stage, lights, power and all technical support. The Fortuna Fire District and The City of Fortuna has been instrumental with help from the FPD and Parks and Recreation.
Donations are still needed to cover the cost of the event. Please make checks payable to FFF and mail to PO Box 491 Fortuna, CA 95540. All businesses donating $100 or more can drop off a banner at Wendt Construction that will be placed on the Newburg Park fence as a sponsor the week before the event.
This is a family friendly event so we ask you to leave your pets, alcohol and drugs at home.
We are accepting vendor applications for the July 3rd event, get it online at fortunafireworksfestival.com
For more information or volunteer opportunities please email fortunafireworks@gmail.com
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