Comments on: Decatur Postpones July 4th Events Until September

By: Parker Cross

Parker Cross — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 23:52:03 +0000

I think that was the first year of the book festival and the fireworks were a nice punctuation point for the conclusion of a new Decatur festival. One of the biggest challenges of including the fireworks had to do with street closures. One set for the festival, another, albeit overlapping, for the fireworks fall-out zone. You may have been wanting to attend an author presentation late in the day, not interested in the fireworks, and then been held hostage because you were unable to retrieve your car from the fall-out zone. And there are different (additional) requirements for public safety when you combine the events.
I’m sure it’s not impossible to stage the simultaneous events effectively, but it’s a strain on limited resources.
But, hey, there’s so much great stuff planned for the book festival, you won’t have time for fireworks! And I look forward to sitting in my lawn chair in September, listening to Roxie Watson, and then enjoying the fireworks.

By: smalltowngal

smalltowngal — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 23:32:17 +0000

Thanks for the explanation, Parker. You and others who are linchpins of Decatur’s festivals make them happen so smoothly and seamlessly, it’s easy for the rest of us to overlook the mind-boggling logistics that go into these annual events we love so much.

By: Parker Cross

Parker Cross — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 23:20:15 +0000

It does seem better, Angela, until you think about the logistics involved. You need to reschedule the overtime assignments for police, sanitation and event support; update your liability insurance which is date-specific; give local businesses more than a week’s notice of street closings; make sure there is no conflict with other planned events, especially at the Old Courthouse; hire a band on short notice; coordinate with all of the beloved sponsors to their satisfaction; and, of course, check for the availability of the fireworks company producing the event. All the while hoping that the bad weather doesn’t linger for a week. And probably lots of other things that we don’t have to think about because someone else does think about.
It would not be impossible to build a date plus one week clause into many of those contracts, but I think it would strain the resources of the presenters (that is, cost more money.)

I, for one, have entered the September concert and fireworks into my calendar and am looking forward to it.

By: Parker Cross

Parker Cross — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 22:42:53 +0000

Roxie Watson plus fireworks plus cooler weather? I’m delighted!

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 16:18:53 +0000

May have to do with city worker staffing and event schedules.

By: Rick Julian

Rick Julian — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 15:44:53 +0000

will not allow this postponement to dampen my celebration of the 4th, so, per my tradition, am rocking it sans boxers today.

#‎#independenceday
‎#thrilled2Bfree

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISWOrI0WaLs

By: Macarolina

Macarolina — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 14:09:31 +0000

Avondale fireworks rescheduled to 8/31- hope that works out for the kiddos.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 13:02:00 +0000

That happened one year and caused way too much confusion. The last time the 4th was postponed, which I think was 2 or 3 years ago, they also moved it to the last Saturday in September.