Additional Sponsors Sought For July Fireworks

CHATHAM – Pre-Fourth of July fireworks have become a tradition in town, with the Chatham Athletic Association sponsoring the summertime event for the past several years.

 This year’s fourth annual fireworks show could be the last, however, unless more sponsors can be found to help support the event.

 Although the fireworks are held at the town-owned Veterans Field, the Association pays the entire cost of putting on the show, which this year happens on Wednesday, July 2. Last year the event cost about $23,000, said Athletics Association President Steve West. That includes $15,000 for the fireworks — by North Star Fireworks, the same outfit that produces the First Night fireworks — about $6,000 for police and fire department coverage and $2,000 for entertainment.

 Chatham Bars Inn was a major sponsor when the fireworks first began, along with other local businesses and organizations, and the event broke even, West said. Last year, CBI pulled back some of its support, and the sponsorships fell short of the cost. 

“This year’s it’s kind of dried up, frankly,” he said. CBI remains the largest sponsor, but the Association is actively working to recruit more in order to meet costs.

Sponsorships are available at $500 to $3,000, with various perks at different levels. More information is available at www.chathamanglers.com.

While the fireworks are the highlight of the event, sponsorships provide the means to create an evening’s worth of family entertainment, West said. Children’s entertainment begins at 7 p.m., with face painting and other activities, followed by a performance by the Jeff Lowe band at 8 p.m. Fireworks begin about 9:15 p.m.

West stressed that if additional sponsors can’t be found, this may be the swan song for summer fireworks, at least with the Athletic Association as sponsor.

“We like doing it, we think it’s good for the town,” he said. “But it’s just too big of a hit.”