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No Reschedule Date for Kent Fireworks

Dry conditions forced cancellation of annual display

 

Kent won't have a fireworks show this year unless we get a lot of rain between now and Saturday night.

Members of the Kent United Services Organization, which is a conglomerate of Kent groups that run the Kent Heritage Festival, decided Monday night that the fireworks show won't be rescheduled if it can't go off on Saturday night during the festival.

"Unless the (Kent Fire Department) retracts the notice of cancellation, there will not be fireworks," said Lori Wemhoff, executive director of the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce. "No alternate date will be set."

The fire department ordered the cancellation of the fireworks Monday morning, due to the dry conditions, at the recommendation of the Ohio Fire Marshal's Office.

Kent Fire Lt. Rich Lynn said the department could rescind the cancellation order only if it rains between now and Saturday night, when the fireworks were originally set to go off.

"But it’s got to be an appreciable amount," Lynn said.

If the forecast is any indication, then no fireworks will brighten the night sky over the Tree City this year.

High temperatures are expected to be at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit from today through Saturday, according to Weather.com. Today and Wednesday are the only two days with a chance of rain. It's expected to be hot and sunny the rest of the week.

With the loss of fireworks, this year the Heritage Festival lost two of its primary attractions. The train rides were also eliminated from the festival this year due to liability concerns.

Wemhoff said there are plenty of other reasons to visit the festival, which is set for Saturday from 9 a.m. to midnight and will feature more than 130 food, craft and information vendors.

"Safety has to be our number one priority," she said.

Related Topics: 4th of July, Canceled, Fireworks 2012, Kent Heritage Festival, and Kent Ohio Fireworks

Randy McFarland

10:06 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Liability concerns for a train ride? I think the fun police must be rearing its ugly head in Kent.

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Concerned Neighbor

1:26 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012

It's raining now. Let's get the fireworks back on the schedule! If not, then let's use the cash to get the Kramer bridge built.

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Tom Tucker

11:04 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012

Uhh...we need A LOT more rain than what we've received over the past day or so. Especially with the heat.

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Matt McMinn

11:55 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012

there's been three significant rainfalls since the state fire marshall issued that... i think we are good to go now.

Randy McFarland

7:44 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012

Well its been raining pretty good since this story was put out. I think they are just trying to save the $$. which is ok just say we would like to use the $$ in a more redponsible manner than putting it all up in smoke.

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Matt Fredmonsky

10:26 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012

One important note is that the fireworks display is not paid for with city tax dollars. The Kent United Service Organization, which puts on the Heritage Fest, pays for the $8,000 display with fees from the festival vendors.

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Matt McMinn

11:52 am on Thursday, July 5, 2012

So what might the Kent United Services Org do with this $8,000 now?

I'm sure they have already collected the money from the vendors, and I'm sure attendance will be lower due to the cancelled fireworks, which means the vendors wont make as much in sales.

I'm just curious what happens to that money now, and could a vendor back out and get their deposit back due to the cancellation.

William B Budner ESQ.

12:22 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012

plenty of people will flock downtown in spite of the lack of boom ahh boom ohh! no vender would back out because of the fireworks, that would be silly since 99% of the money they make that day will come in before the sun goes down...

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Brian

5:22 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012

Who needs a fireworks show when you have the donnybrook between SRCA and FWSH?! Great stuff Matt. I'm having a hard time deciding which side I disagree with more.

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The Colonel

11:08 am on Friday, July 6, 2012

So I see an update saying fireworks are back on!!! But no time,date or place is mentioned. Who,what,where,when guys. Basic reporting 101

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Matt McMinn

11:15 am on Friday, July 6, 2012

I love it when a plan comes together.

I believe it was intended to be This Saturday 7/7/12 at approx 10pm...?!
Can anyone confirm?

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Michelle F

3:48 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012

Could someone let me know where they are shot off from and where are some good viewing points please.

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Matt Fredmonsky

3:54 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012

Here's the info: the fireworks are launched from the former RB&W site on Mogadore Road. They will be launched at about 10 p.m. Downtown on the Main Street Bridge is generally a good spot to view them from.

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