July 3rd lakeside fireworks canceled for 2024

A lakeside summer tradition was once again extinguished, as Milwaukee County Parks announced Friday evening that the annual July 3 fireworks display has been canceled for 2024.

According to an official release from the Parks Department, the reason for this year’s cancellation is a lack of sponsorship to help cover the cost of the event – ​​which, according to the Park release, cost $350,000 alone. for fireworks, plus an additional $20,000 for staff. , dumpsters, fences, portable toilets and other elements necessary for the smooth running of the show.

“As a non-mandated service, our primary goal is to ensure our parks remain vibrant and accessible year-round, and hosting events like the July 3 fireworks display would limit our ability to fulfill this commitment” , we can read in the statement from Milwaukee County Parks. .

“We recognize the disappointment this news may bring,” Milwaukee County Parks Director Guy Smith added in the release. “However, our commitment to providing vibrant and accessible recreational spaces remains unwavering. We are grateful for the years of generous support from sponsors that have allowed us to create lasting memories, and we express our gratitude to the community for their continued understanding and support. ”

This year’s cancellation marks another unfortunate chapter in the recent and turbulent history of the July 3 fireworks display. The lakeside celebration was almost canceled in 2019 after being unable to find a new backer after its main sponsor at the time, US Bank, announced that the previous year would be its last. The Milwaukee Brewers and several other local groups managed to team up and save that year’s show — even though the fireworks would eventually go out the next two years anyway, due to COVID-19 in 2020, then due to staffing and resource difficulties in 2021. The July 3 fireworks at the lake have made an explosive return in 2022 and 2023 – but unfortunately, at the moment, we cannot say the same about this summer.

At the time of publication, there was no news of new efforts to help sponsor this summer’s July 3 fireworks. The Milwaukee County Parks announcement, however, lists several alternative July 4 fireworks options hosted at their other locations, including:

• Hales Corners Park
• Sheridan Park
• Kletzsch Park
• Grant Park
• Alcott Park
• Wilson Park
• Mitchell Park
• Washington Park
• Noyes Park
• Lincoln Park
• Jackson Park
• Humboldt Park
• Gordon Park
• Lake Park
• King Park (no fireworks, celebration only)

For more information on these Fourth of July celebrations and support for Milwaukee County Parks, click here – and stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for any updates.