The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Make that Sunday a blowout in CB
Happy day before Independence Day! That will be the fireworks refrain in 2011 as the Crested Butte Town Council has decided to have its fireworks display on July 3 next year. Since that’s a Sunday, mayor Leah Williams wants the entire day to be a celebration for tourists and locals.
“I met with Mt. Crested Butte mayor William Buck and he said Mt. Crested Butte is not interested in alternating years for the Fourth of July fireworks,” Williams told the council at its Monday, September 20 meeting. “So I’ll suggest having a great celebration with fireworks launched from Crested Butte on July 3 this next summer. We can work with the Arts Center, the businesses and have a full day of activities.
“That way there will be two nights of fireworks up here at this end of the valley,” Williams continued. “We can make it a great day and it will roll into the Fourth.”
Williams said she would be hesitant to ask downtown businesses for donations to help fund the fireworks. Last July Fourth, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte each spent more than $10,000 for impressive—but separate—fireworks displays. Crested Butte Mountain Resort contributed to help fund the fireworks on the mountain, while several individuals donated to the Crested Butte show.
“If businesses want to contribute they can, but I don’t think we should ask them,” Williams said. “We can ask individuals and we had several help last summer.”
Councilperson Phoebe Wilson said she thought the Sunday display would benefit downtown businesses. “It could be a good two days,” she said.
“This year it makes total sense to roll on July 3 since it is a Sunday,” said councilperson Reed Betz. “But I’d like to keep it flexible into the future as the calendar changes. I agree we should blow it out on that Sunday.”
“It could benefit the parade the next day,” added councilperson Roland Mason.
Town manager Susan Parker said she would begin contacting fireworks companies and would start scouting appropriate downtown locations from which to launch the fireworks.
