EXCELSIOR, Minnesota — Normally all eyes are on the sky for July 4, but our wet summer may be getting in the way of Independence Day planning. Showers can steal fireworks depending on where you live.
After a five-year hiatus, Red, White and Boom will return to Minneapolis on July 4, barring extreme weather.
“They’ll be monitoring the food trucks, the live performances and the live bands as people gather and we’ll announce it as the night progresses,” said Dawn Sommers, spokesperson for Minneapolis Parks.
Sommers says the decision to cancel the fireworks display will be made that evening, and possibly at the last minute, depending on circumstances.
“Our plan is to be optimistic and hopeful and give people a good time,” she said.
The event takes place at a gathering attended by more than 300 park employees plan to strike on July 4, raising concerns about the event and cleanup. But the Park Board said they have plans in place to minimize the impact.
In Excelsior, the popular fireworks spectacle was postponed to July 3 due to bad weather conditions.
“Since it was almost certain we would have bad weather, we tried to be proactive so the community could still enjoy a fireworks show,” said Tiffany King, CEO of the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce.
King said moving the show to Saturday was not an option because the agencies and partners involved in the organization are organizing other festivities.
“It’s not fun for anyone when it gets this wet and muddy, so we hope this is the best decision with the knowledge we have,” King said.
This year there will be no fireworks shows in Valleyfair and Stillwater on Thursday due to flooding.
“It is what it is. There’s nothing you can do about it,” said Matt Berna of Chanhassen.
Chanhassen and other cities are still hoping for fireworks shows on July 4, but are encouraging people to check online for updates.
For a list of places to view fireworks in the Twin Cities, click here.
