Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown announced the resumption of the July Fourth celebration in Kirby Park this year and asked for donations to pay for fireworks and other festivities. Jerry Lynott | Times Leader
Mayor appeals for donations to fund celebration
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WILKES-BARRE — Determined to put on a fireworks show for July Fourth, Mayor George Brown Tuesday asked for contributions to fund the holiday celebration planned for Kirby Park.
How big of a bang is delivered depends upon the bucks donated.
“We’re going to have a celebration based on the amount of donations we receive. I’d love to be able to do the traditional fireworks and the bands and the food vendors,” Brown said during a press conference at City Hall. “But understand that we’ve reached out already to some of our vendors that gave donations before and they’re not able to do it this year.”
The city won’t be able to rely on Mohegan Sun Pocono casino to cover the $12,500 cost for pyrotechnics, as it has in the past, Brown noted. The sound system for bands costs $1,000 and the musical groups themselves charge to perform.
Businesses, big and small, have been hit hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic over the past year and a half. Their revenues are down. They either can’t contribute anything or not as much, leaving the city to issue a public appeal for help.
“Accordingly, I’m asking any individuals or entities, which may be in a position to make a donation, however small, to contact my office at 570.208.4157 at your earliest convenience,” Brown said.
Entertainers and food vendors interested in participating in the celebration are asked to Special Events Coordinator Patty Hughes at phughes@wilkes-barre.pa.us or 570.208.4149 for more information.
“Let’s get back to normalcy,” Brown said.
Normalcy for the celebration to run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. will still require people to wear masks in public even while the state set May 31 as the date to lift all COVID-19 restrictions. As of then there will be no capacity limits on bars, businesses, restaurants and indoor and outdoor events.
The restrictions will be in place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the Fine Arts Fiesta on Public Square. Future events include the Farmers Market, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sept. 19 and the Veterans Day and holiday parades later in the year
Brown said he met with his senior staff and asked them to get involved to reach out to their contacts and friends for donations for the Fourth of July.
“We’re going to piece it together. We’re going to do our best,” Brown said.
Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.