PORT TOWNSEND — Fireworks will light up the night of Fourth of July at Fort Worden State Park this year after a two-year hiatus — and it will be more than a pyrotechnic demonstration.
“We want this to be more than just a fireworks display,” said Dominic Svornich, who with Danny Millholland is organizing the event under the auspices of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.
“We want this to be something for not only people in the area; we hope it will draw people who want to spend the weekend.”
That the Fourth of July is on a Saturday this year is a plus, Svornich said.
Beginning what sponsors hope will become a tradition, the celebration will be dubbed “The 1st Annual ‘Old School’ 4th of July.”
The display itself will be unusual, Svornich said.
It will be managed by David Chuljian, a Port Townsend dentist who is a second-generation pyrotechnician.
“David is developing something special for us,” Svornich said.
“It won’t be the kind of off-the-shelf displays we’ve had some years.”
The display will run concurrently with Centrum’s 2015 Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, which provides a built-in entertainment platform, but more activities are planned such as a beer garden, food trucks, a car show and a pie-eating contest.
And there will be free root beer floats for everyone.
Also planned is live music featuring Tuba Skinny, a band composed of Fiddle Tunes participants, Kevin Mason and the Yacht Club, and The Hep Replacement.
Svornich expects that most of the $8,000 to $10,000 cost of the display itself will be covered by sponsors, including Port Townsend Paper Corp., but small contributions are being solicited.
“We’re looking for business sponsorships and individual contributions over the next three months to help put on the event and to expand it to a fully envisioned weekend of fun for the whole family,” said Teresa Verraes, the chamber’s executive director.
“If people want to kick in $30 or $50, that’s great,” Svornich said.
“But we are doing this in a very low-key, very grass-roots way, and if we are able to pull this off, we’ll do it bigger and better next year.”
In past years, the show was sponsored by the Port Townsend Sunrise Rotary Club and businesses. When that funding was no longer available, the city took over in 2011.
After two years of supporting the fireworks, the city was unable to do so in 2013, and there was no display.
In spring 2014, the chamber attempted to put together a display.
By that time, both sponsorships and fireworks suppliers had already sold their available stock.
The planning process has been in place for more than a year and has now kicked into high gear.
Donations are accepted at any Jefferson County branch of Kitsap Bank or can be mailed to Kitsap Bank’s Port Townsend branch at 2313 E. Sims Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368.
Contributions exceeding $20 will receive a special gift, which Svornich said is still under development.
Business owners interested in sponsorships can contact Svornich at 360-385-0123.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
