A Review of This Year’s Fireworks Display
By
Mitch Davis, Chairman of Communications

After enjoying an afternoon at Yacht Club with the family, my wife, Anne, and I went over to the soccer fields for this year’s fireworks show. The show was sponsored by the Lake Forest Property Owner’s Association and the City of Daphne. 

As most of you know, the LFPOA Board of Directors decided last fall that we would not hold the fireworks at the Yacht Club this year.  For a number of years our board has budgeted $5,000 for the annual event.  The City of Daphne has pitched in another $5,000 and we have had some terrific celebrations down at our Yacht Club.  However, a couple of years ago, condominiums were built in the field next to the club and we lost a big chunk of our parking space.  Last year, the City arranged for shuttles to move people back and forth from the old Delchamps parking lot, which worked reasonably well, but it was very inconvenient.  On top of that, the people who were responsible for moving the barge in and out of our marina created some complications and additional cost to the association, so that we ended up spending closer to $7,500.  The City didn’t help with the additional expenses. It was because of issues like these that the board decided to turn the fireworks over to the City.  LFPOA contributed $2,500 to the 4th of July fireworks and spent another $1,500 or so on entertainment, games and so on at the Yacht Club this afternoon.  See the story on the Yacht Club activities in another article on this site.  Also, give us your opinion from the link at the end of this article.  Should Lake Forest agree to host the fireworks display at the Yacht Club next year?

When we got soccer fields at around 8:30pm, we found a pretty good crowd sitting around the fields just off the parking lot.  Rather than stop there, we moved further on into the field area trying to figure out where the fireworks were going to be and where would be the best place for us to sit in order to see the show.  We ended up moving quite a ways before we finally got to what we thought would be a good spot.  The show started around 9:00pm.  I thought that it was a good fireworks display.   The organization of the pyrotechnics seemed a little unusual.  There was a beautiful finale of explosions but rather than end, there was a short delay and then a few more rockets went up as if they had missed their cue and just went off late.  And then, it was over.

While we were leaving the place we heard a few comments that suggested some disappointment with the show.  Also, out on the street some kids started shooting off their own rockets and I heard the remark out of the audience, “That’s the best show we’ve seen.” I really don’t think they were being quite fair.  It was certainly not the best show I saw tonight.  Those that the City put on were great! 

So, what went wrong?  Well, I decided that what was missing was the “celebration”.  Until tonight I never really realized how much Lake Forest contributed to the 4th of July event other than just the fireworks.   Our club always had afternoon activities leading up to the fireworks.  There have always been games to play, food to eat, and tons of opportunity to socialize with our friends and neighbors.  This doesn’t even consider the beautiful sun-going-down display that we have always been able to watch across the bay.  In Lake Forest, the 4th of July has always been what it was supposed to have been, a chance for friends and neighbors to spend a few hours together celebrating our great nation.  At the soccer fields, there was nothing, only quiet, with a few kids playing around the field and some folks quietly talking with their family.  The celebration was missing.  I never realized that the celebration was so much more than some fireworks until tonight. 

So, what could have been done to make it better?  For starters, there could have been police officers directing the people closer to the field where the fireworks were held.  I don’t see how those people who set up out near the streets could have possibly seen much of the show.  Also, by doing that, there would have been more people a little closer together and, thus, greater opportunity to socialize and celebrate.  Also, there needs to be more going on leading up to the fireworks show.  Food vendors could be brought in like at a parade or Arts & Crafts show.  In fact, this might be a good opportunity to have something like an Arts & Crafts show.  How about having some games?  THERE WAS NO MUSIC!  How can we have a great celebration without music?   Do you see?  We had a nice fireworks show.  We just didn’t have much of a celebration. 

But, let’s be fair.  This is the first time the City has done it without Lake Forest personnel to help.  The location really has a lot of potential, although everyone I’ve talked to have indicated that they prefer the fireworks on the bay.  I'm sure, though, that the City will get better at it.  Let's just be patient.

Should Lake Forest agree to move the 4th of July fireworks back to the Yacht Club next year?  Tell us what you think.