4th of July in August? Rochester approves plan for late-summer fireworks celebration
In a summer where nearly every major community event has been canceled, Rochester may at least have a fireworks show this summer — and there appears to be much more in the works.
In a 4-3 vote on Monday, the Rochester City Council approved plans to shoot off $40,000 in fireworks on August 22 at Soldiers Field Park. The meeting’s agenda packet says the event will be part of a “new adaptable community celebration,” created by a group of event planners from Rochester.
Map of the proposed fireworks display area / council agenda packet
Mayor Kim Norton says she has sat in on weekly planning meetings held by representatives from the Rochester Park Board, Rochesterfest and Riverside Concerts. In addition, she says a local TV station (as of yet unnamed) will air the festivities in primetime for people who want to watch from home.
“We’re trying to find a way to rally the community; to have a delayed Rochester holiday,” said Norton.
While Norton and various council members did note the possibility of postponement or cancellation if an uptick in Covid-19 cases occurs, the hope is to successfully blend festival activities with proper social distancing. Steven Schmidt, general manager of Riverside Concerts, said drive-in concerts have been on the table in addition to other possible amenities, while noting the entire program was still “very much in development.”
Council Members Mark Bilderback, Nick Campion and Annalissa Johnson voted nay on the fireworks proposal. (Councilors Wojcik, Keane, Palmer and Staver voted in favor.) Council Member Bilderback noted that he believed Cascade Lake would be a better site for the celebration and fireworks display, but also called into question the timing of the festival’s rollout.
“I’m not sure that this is a good idea,” said Bilderback. “We still don’t know where we’re going to be with Covid, and if we’ve canceled everything else based on that, you’d want to let the world get back to itself slowly.”
With Monday’s vote, the fireworks display becomes the first cornerstone of the as-yet-unnamed celebration at Soldiers Field. Information on other facets of the program will be released in the coming weeks.
Isaac Jahns is a Rochester native and a 2019 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. He reports on politics, business and music for Med City Beat.
Cover photo licensed via Canva
