Seattlefireworks1.jpg
The Fourth of July fireworks show on the shores of Lake Union in Seattle. (KIRO Radio file)

Tom Douglas starts effort to save July 4 fireworks in Seattle

March 31, 2010 @ 6:42 pm (Updated: 12:30 pm - 4/1/10 )

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See the running total and make a pledge at mynorthwest.com/fireworks

MyNorthwest.com &
The Associated Press

The slumping economy and the collapse of Washington Mutual have brought an end to the only remaining major July 4 fireworks show in Seattle.

But maybe it's not too late to save it.

On Thursday's Dave Ross Show Seattle restaurateur and chef Tom Douglas pledged $5,000 to keep the show going and challenged other Seattle business leaders to do the same.

Dave Ross kicked in $1,000 of his own money, and Charlie's Produce in Seattle added $10,000 to keep the show running.

If you run a local business and would like to pledge a donation to keep the Seattle fireworks show running visit our pledge page.

On Wednesday, One Reel, the nonprofit that organizes the show, announced that it was not able to secure a corporate sponsor for the annual fireworks show, which attracts tens of thousands of people each summer to the shores of Lake Union.

In a letter posted on the show's Web site, One Reel board member Tomoko Moriguchi Matsuno says the nonprofit looked for 15 months for a new sponsor. Seattle-based bank Washington Mutual had been the sponsor of the show for eight years before it collapsed in 2008. Chase, which absorbed Washington Mutual, agreed to sponsor the show for one year.

Matsuno says One Reel will continue to look for a sponsor for 2011.

Seattle's other major fireworks show - one sponsored by the restaurant chain Ivar's - folded in 2009 due to costs.

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Comments (19)


  • Add A Comment

  • wonderfullone wrote...
    Just one more reason for the libs to be happy
    March 31, 2010 6:06 pm
    Now, if we can silence the sound of freedom, The Blue Angels for this year, they will all be as happy as possible.

    I can't wait until they all give up and leave this state.

    Keep defending the crooks!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • USNSeattle wrote...
    wonderfullone
    March 31, 2010 6:16 pm
    I agree with you 100%. They won't be happy until every display of pride has been pushed out of this Nation. I pray for this Nation and our state every night because the people running it absolutely hate freedom and independence.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • liame wrote...
    Misleading....
    March 31, 2010 6:56 pm
    So, which year is Chase sponsoring? Not 2011, since according to the article they are still searching for a 2011 sponsor. Not 2010 since the title of the article makes that clear! So can we nail Chase down to a particular year in the near future?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rmayer wrote...
    Why be angry
    March 31, 2010 7:40 pm
    I never understood why the people who want to ban everything not eco-friendly still put on a show that dumped tons of garbage and pollution into the environment. Finally they get a taste of their own medicine.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mrroper wrote...
    liame
    March 31, 2010 7:46 pm
    Chase sponsored last year. duh.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • lecrankychef wrote...
    It figures....
    March 31, 2010 9:11 pm
    Somehow it figures that a Fourth of July Celebration is killed. Simply goes in line with the liberals in charge of killing freedom. Just another nail in our coffin of changing our once freedom loving nation into an example of euro socialism. Sad sad indeed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AKAF wrote...
    liame....
    March 31, 2010 9:53 pm
    This year's show is cancelled and the non-profit group is looking for a new sponsor for the following year. I'm not sure how liberals are to be blamed in this considering it's the lack of sponsors that is to be blamed. Where is Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks or Google? How about giving back to the community that made you all profitable!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oracle wrote...
    No 4th of July Violence??
    March 31, 2010 10:16 pm
    I guess all the gun crazy republicans won't be able to get drunk and shoot each other! Wow, a 4th of July without crazy republican violence. Who woulda thunk...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • AKAF wrote...
    I have to laugh
    March 31, 2010 11:48 pm
    Oracle...please explain the gun crazed Republicans shooting others on 4th of July. You truely believe in the hype.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • roomtemp wrote...
    Sorry Seattle...
    April 1, 2010 12:00 am
    No 4th of July art for you... No rockets red glare, no bombs bursting in air. Any proof that your flag is still there?

    Maybe you can visit a Chihuly museum for the 4th. (snicker)

    I stopped going to the Seattle shows years ago. It's not worth fighting traffic and finding parking for the cheesy shows they put on. Besides, half the fun is lighting the fuse.

    We had 24 mortar tubes going for 2 1/2 hours last year. (Put them in big rubbermaid bins with about 6 inches of sand. Safe, works sweet.) Our neighbors on either side were similar (they like cakes). People were collecting on our street for blocks around, lol. Everybody has their hoses (and buckets) at the ready and takes turns doing fire patrol, for which they receive beer. so it gets patrolled often.

    Eat, drink, and be merry all day and set off colorful aerial explosives at night. What's not to like? [Oh yeah, that would be cleaning up the next day with a gas blower/vacuum and a hangover, but other than that it's really fun.]

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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