2020 City of Lebanon Fourth of July Firework

The City of Lebanon Fourth of July Fireworks display has been a celebration that many residents and visitors alike have enjoyed for over 50 years. Unfortunately, the City of Lebanon, our residents and our businesses have felt the severe impact of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.  The Fourth of July Fireworks display annually relies on community businesses and residents to fund a large portion of the display cost.  Around March of every year, the City sends out requests for donations for the upcoming fireworks display.   Due to business closings and the loss of jobs for many, the City did not believe it was appropriate to make our annual plea for donations.  We should have done a better job yesterday when sharing on Facebook why we were cancelling the annual display.  Spectators inside Coleman Memorial Park usually amount to about 1,500.  In addition to wanting to minimize a large gathering during this time, the request for donations was not performed this year.  However, we have heard your patriotic voices and we believe we may have a compromise.  It will require your involvement though.  The City needs to fundraise $11,000 by Wednesday, June 17th to cover the donations that we typically receive to cover the costs of the display.  If we are able to reach that amount, the City would move forward with hosting the fireworks display.  To be fully transparent, the display would be a little different in that we would keep the park closed and we would show only aerial displays to the community.  We propose to close streets in the vicinity of Coleman Memorial Park and we will attempt to arrange for some on-lot parking as well.  We both have a job to do, if we are serious about wanting this event to take place.  We hope that you better understand the situation we face and we further hope that you will appreciate that it is our desire, as well, to show our patriotism during a time of uncertainty in our country.  As citizens, over the centuries, we made many sacrifices.  However, we stood together and came through them.  We are innovated and creative.  If we work together as a team, I think we may be able to pull something amazing off!  Let’s pull together and make this happen!

 Thank you for your consideration, 
Mayor Sherry Capello


*Please be advised that if we are unable to fundraise enough money to cover the costs of the display, the City will utilize the funds for next year’s event.