They started with a bang, but when it was time consider how the 2022 Chardon Fourth of July fireworks show went, it may have been a bust.
They started with a bang, but when it was time consider how the 2022 Chardon Fourth of July fireworks show went, it may have been a bust.
The tweet went out July 3, a day after the July 2 show.
“Chardon Fireworks thanks all who attended last night – crowd donations – $336 – lowest in 30 years we are sorry to report. The Last Blast was a BLAST! Thanks for 30 years of Great Fun!”
That was from G-TV and Dave Jevnikar, who started the Chardon Area Fireworks Fund along with Jim Heighway and Ed Babcock in 1993.
“We were tired of going to Mentor to see a fireworks show,” Jevnikar said.
In the 1980s, the Jaycees put on the show. Prior to that, it was the Chardon Area Chamber of Commerce, Jevnikar said. But at some point it was dropped.
Now, the show could be dropped again, he said, for several reasons.
“The thought that it’s time for someone else to carry the torch, new blood — perhaps an organization would like to take it over,” Jevnikar said.
He also said fewer people actually attend the show, preferring to watch somewhere else.
“Early on, we had tremendous crowds,” he said. “Now they prefer to sit at Home Depot or up on the Square, watch and head home, like it’s the end of the world if they have to sit in traffic for five minutes.”
Chardon Police Chief Scott Niehus said crowds come later now, and thinks COVID-19 is still a factor.
“(This year) there was never a line at the King Kone truck as in years past,” said Niehus, who estimated the onsite watching crowd at 1,500 to 2,000 people. “But I think things are slowly coming back.”
And then, of course, there’s the cost.
Chardon’s show has been privately funded from the beginning, with local businesses providing all the support. Chardon police and fire provide support at a cost unknown to the committee.
“We detail the fireworks,” Niehus said. “We don’t charge back to the firework committee. We support. People don’t realize it’s not a city event. Largely it’s funded by support from the community. That’s coming out of my budget.”
The City of Chardon has recently helped financially, but “none of the other township governments have ever helped,” Jevnikar said.
Each February, the committee signs a contract for $13,000 without much deposited in the fund, hoping that the donors come through.
“If they don’t, then we’re on the hook for the difference,” Jevnikar said.
Chardon chooses a date other than July 4 in order to get a discount — “more bang for the buck” —because of the number of licensed shooters.
The cost of this year’s show increased by 33 percent, and two years ago the group had to pay a $3,500 cancellation fee due to COVID-19. “Add the two together, and it’s a significant hit,” he said.
Additional costs, like insurance, supplies, and janitorial and cleanup, total about $2,500.
Adding a band or bounce house for children have been considered — more activities to draw people in.
“But that would take an organization larger than two or three people.”
For the time being, at least, Jevnikar said options are still being mulled over.
