By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 12:00 p.m. EDT, Jun 30, 2010
boom.
Akron will have Fourth of July fireworks this year.
They just won't be as dramatic as in past years.
Akron's decision to offer a scaled-back display has caused confusion, with some thinking the city's fireworks plans had fizzled completely.
Not so.
The city won't have the elaborate fireworks over the Innerbelt that it has had since 1975, but a smaller, less expensive display will be offered at Lock 3 downtown Sunday in conjunction with an Akron Symphony Orchestra concert.
While some local communities, including Akron and Fairlawn, scaled back or canceled fireworks because of budget constraints, there are many local communities still offering free fireworks to mark the holiday.
The booms begin Friday night, with fireworks in Hiram and Hudson. Displays will be held Saturday night in Brunswick, Medina, Portage Lakes and Wadsworth.
Fireworks fans have a long list of choices Sunday, including Alliance, Akron, Aurora, Massillon, Orrville, Spencer, Valley City and Wooster. North Canton is the only local community offering a display Monday.
Akron's fireworks will be at 9:45 p.m., capping an Akron Symphony Orchestra concert that will start at 8 p.m. The concert will include an Armed Forces Salute, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and John Philip Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever. Those attending are advised to arrive early and bring a blanket or lawn chair.
Akron General Medical Center chipped in $7,000 to help pay for the fireworks.
Mayor Don Plusquellic announced in mid-April that the larger display on the Innerbelt wouldn't be held for budgetary reasons. He said at the time that a less elaborate display would be offered at Lock 3.
A few people expressed interest in helping cover the cost of the bigger display — $100,000 for the fireworks and police and firefighter overtime — but these arrangements didn't work out. This left the city with its original plan of a smaller-scale boom.
''Cancelling the Fourth of July fireworks display over the Innerbelt was a difficult choice,'' Plusquellic said. ''But most of our residents seem to understand that, in a year of economic turmoil, we are trying to make prudent choices for the city, our residents and our employees.''
The fireworks will be the finale of Akron's annual Rib, White & Blue festival, which starts Thursday and will feature musical acts every night, rides for kids and lots of barbecue. This year's event will be free.
For more information on the festival, visit Akron's Web site at http://www.ci.akron.oh.us or the Lock 3 site at http://www.Lock3live.com.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
