4th of July

I have to buy tickets to watch town fireworks in a public park? WTF?

They aren't town (i.e. tax-supported) fireworks. In fact, that's why we still have them and many other towns do not in these budget constrained times.

But, there are plenty of places that you can see them outside the fences without paying if you don't want to support them.

If you want to sit in the premium seats, yes, but plenty of space in the other parts of the park if not. Buying the button also gives access to all sorts of daytime activities.

Personally, we aren't so interested in the daytime activities, and aren't going to pay something like $50 for buttons for the whole family just for the fireworks (sorry!) but were quite content sitting in the section of the park across the road last year.

There is endless discussion on this every year...some annoyed at the cost, others trying to make non-payers guilty, etc. see last year's thread if interested. The reality is that most communities around here have either quite having fireworks (South Orange) or gone to models with charges for the best seating in order to help control crowds and recoup some of the cost of policing, cleaning, etc.

If everyone who watched the fireworks bought a tag, they probably wouldn't cost as much. And, this year, if you want both fireworks seating AND circus, the cost is $15, and those are the only ones you can get in advance. You can still get either one for $10 at the event.

Whether you choose pay to attend the 4th of July events in Maplewood is a personal choice. However, if enough persons opted out of buying the tags, there would be no 4th of July activities here. Maplewood's 4th of July celebration is funded entirely by tag sales and staffed entirely by volunteers. The big ticket items are the circus and the fireworks and that is why the tags are geared this year to those events but the tag money also goes towards paying for the other events that are held throughout the day.

Since the fireworks are now being set off in the park, the amount of viewing space available on the other side of the park from the viewing area is severely reduced. The best viewing areas outside of the paid seating area have also changed as a result of this move necessitated by the loss of the old police station parking lot as a launch site. This caused quite a bit of angst last year from those seeking a free view of the fireworks and will likely cause displeasure among those seeking not to pay to see the fireworks this year.

As stated up-thread, there are three types of tags available this year. The combined tags, which are the only kind available in advance, are $15 each and cover both the circus and the fireworks. For those who wish to attend one but not both, there are separate tags available at Memorial Park throughout the day on the 4th of July which are circus only OR fireworks only. These cost $10 each. There are no reduced cost tags for children, seniors, or those on reduced income. This can seem expensive for some, especially those with a large family, but when you consider what you get for the money, the cost is pretty reasonable.

Here's a list of other fireworks displays in Essex county (most free).

http://bestofnj.com/north-jersey-fireworks#essex

"The reality is that most communities around here have either quite having fireworks (South Orange) or gone to models with charges for the best seating in order to help control crowds and recoup some of the cost of policing, cleaning, etc."

What other community around here charges for the best seating?

"They aren't town (i.e. tax-supported) fireworks."

Who runs the event? What are the expenses? How are they financed?

The 4th of July Committee of the Civic Association runs the event. This year they are financed by fireworks-specific tag sales, and combination tag sales where a portion of the tag price goes to funding the fireworks. Fireworks are provided by a contractor who is hired by the Committee. A portion of the tag sales also goes to other activities such as the parade, races, baking contest, eating contest, art and music projects, pet show, and concert among others that are included in the day's activities and to administrative costs such as insurance. For a more detailed accounting, you will need to speak with a member of the committee.

Thanks, Joan. I didn't realize it was a private event. Makes more sense.

I just wished they allowed you to purchase the tags online. Not all of us have time to go to the sites where they are being sold during office hours.

Without ticket sales, the fireworks would cease.

maplepie said:

"The reality is that most communities around here have either quite having fireworks (South Orange) or gone to models with charges for the best seating in order to help control crowds and recoup some of the cost of policing, cleaning, etc."

What other community around here charges for the best seating?

I don't have time to look it up, but if you look up one of the big lists of fireworks online, you will see that many surrounding towns do them at football stadiums and charge entry. In some cases on dates other than the 4th.


Joan, could you or someone post the address for donations? We will not be able to go this year but like to support the event. It is pretty special, and a valued part of our kids' memories of growing up here.

Max: I am not a member of the 4th of July Committee and therefore don't have an address for mailed in donations; but, if I get one, I will gladly share it on this thread.

If you are able to make the donation in person, there are two things you could try:

If you want to make a donation in increments of $15, you could purchase one or more advanced sale tags at the library, town hall, or one of numerous local merchants that have them for sale and then not use the tag(s) you have purchased. This is how I usually show my support since I almost never go to the circus or the fireworks.

If you will be around town earlier in the day, you can stop by Memorial Park and give the donation to one of the tag salespersons who will be there.

pmartinezv said:

I just wished they allowed you to purchase the tags online. Not all of us have time to go to the sites where they are being sold during office hours.
You can buy them at the event and there's no difference in the price as far as I know.


Here is the address to which donations may be sent:

Donation Checks can be payable to: "MCA" *
Address: Maplewood Civic Association
P.O. Box 3
Maplewood, NJ 07040
*(July 4th Committee, Maplewood Civic Association)

Do you need to buy tickets/buttons just to enter a cake in the baking contest?? Anyone know?

randg said:

Do you need to buy tickets/buttons just to enter a cake in the baking contest?? Anyone know?


I am pretty sure ... No. And my daughter will be one of the baking contest judges so she hopes that as many people enter as possible particularly kids as they may have her just judging those.

Get to baking people!

I think that the fireworks and circus are the only events where tags are required. But all of the events are supported by the tag sales.

sac is correct, the only events requiring a ticket are the circus and the restricted seating for the fireworks. All other events are free of charge, and everyone is welcome.

All info about tickets, events, participation can be found at http://www.maple4th.com

I'm not on the Committee, but I've been to a few meetings (for website, music, etc). The volunteers are very passionate and work very hard to put this thing together. It's no small (or cheap) underaking, and they do it for the love of the town for free.

So to me, the ticket prices are not a big deal considering you get a full day and night's enjoyment out of it for the family. Think of how much you spend on dinner in a restaurant, or a fork and screen movie, or even at Whole Foods for that matter.

As for online or credit card ticket sales, no time to pull that together this year. By next year, we should have Square Up or Paypal running on iPads, and on the website.

Slight thread drift, but the family and I have always done the circus and fireworks.

But this year with some out of town friends visiting with their kids, and my sister in law in town with their two little boys, I thought it would be a great year to take my two little girls out along with the other kids that are visiting to the kids parade.

Do you just need to show up decorated with your bike\wagons and line up? By push\pull I assume I can pull a wagon with the younger ones while the older ones ride the scooters or bikes. Do the kids need to fill out the form that's also needed for the races?

Thanks!

I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Last year we just showed up with decorated vehicles and did not fill out any forms until we reached Memorial Field to participate in the races.
ETA: I just looked back at the photos and all the kids have blue "Parade" ribbons so we may have filled out something.

There were lots of wagons as well as bikes in the parade.

The greatest challenge of the parade is keeping the kids from zooming past or knocking over the color guard. The color guard needs a serious head start or a different form of transportation. I had to keep using my "teacher voice" to keep the kids behind the flags.

I don't blame the kids, they don't fully understand the significance and many of them are just trying to stay balanced on their bikes. A lot of parents got a good workout running alongside their kids.

Hope your friends enjoy 4th of July in Maplewood. Its one of the many things we love about this town.

I just hope the rain doesn't ruin the day. I have been telling my friend about the whole day for years and am excited to share our towns festivities with his family and him.

Just show up with your bike/scooter/wagon decorated. No form needed.

some of our favorite 4ths in town have been on overcast/rainy days; most events were still on, and it wasn't as hot/crowded as usual. Now, downpours all day is another thing altogether, but showers here and there shouldn't ruin the whole day.

What is the "rain date" protocol? Is that only for the fireworks or also the morning activities? I know (i think) that the circus is "rain or shine", right?

Reply to query on 4th of July facebook asking if outdoor activities would be canceled in the event of rain:

"It will be a judgement call: in a downpour/thunderstorm, yes, outdoor activities would be cancelled. In a light drizzle, kids' races have still taken place in the past."

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