Public Radio for the Piedmont and High Country
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

No Fireworks at Tanglewood Park

By: Camera Slayer via flickr
Tanglewood officials say the cost to put on its own fireworks display is too high.

Tanglewood Park in Clemmons has canceled its Fourth of July fireworks this year.

The Fourth of July fireworks celebration at Tanglewood Park has been a tradition for Triad families for more than 20 years.  

But this year's festivities will not include fireworks.

"Simply put, the cost to put on the event, the fireworks themselves, traffic control, parking staff, bands or entertainment aspect, and event advertisement, are all these items exceed the amount of sponsorship that's normally attained,” says Jazmine Kilpatrick, marketing and events manager for Forsyth County Parks & Recreation.

The fireworks display was also in jeopardy of moving forward last year, because of a lack of sponsorship, but some local businesses kicked in funds at the last minute for the event. 

Kilpatrick says despite the change, the park will still have several activities for visitors on the Fourth. 

“The Fourth of July is one of our busiest days. We have people who come out to enjoy the Aquatic center, the Dog Park, and just to vacation, so the park itself will still be open," says Kilpatrick .

Kilpatrick says, "If another organization decides to conduct the fireworks display or something else at the amphitheater, than we welcome that opportunity."

Kilpatrick wouldn't say how much it would cost to put on this year's fireworks display, but last year Forsyth County Parks and Recreation officials estimated the cost at around $10,000. 

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

Support quality journalism, like the story above,
with your gift right now.

Donate