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Fortuna Fireworks Festival
Celebrate Independence Day a little early in Friendly Fortuna on Monday July 3rd from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm. An evening full of low cost Family Fun is scheduled to take place at this year’s ninth annual Fortuna Fireworks Festival. The festival includes a BBQ, Music, Fireworks, Vendors, an apple pie eating contest and tons of kid’s activities.
Fortuna invites the public to come out and celebrate Independence Day without the usual festival price tag. The festival is free to attend. For kids wanting to enjoy the entertainment they must be accompanied by an adult and have a parent or guardian sign a liability waiver in exchange for a $5 wristband that allows unlimited activities on two huge fields from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.
Wrist band activities will include 13 bounce houses, Shriners clowns and balloon art, A baby animal petting zoo, Nature Joe will have a reptile petting zoo with all things creepy & crawly for those more adventurous. We will also have old fashion potato sack races and new this year will be body boppers human balls for the kids to bop and tumble around in. The Fortuna Fire Department will be hosting their popular kids Firemen style challenges on the grass and doing rides around the park on their mini firetruck. For an additional charge, you can get 3 balls for $1 and have a go at the dunk tank with the Fortuna High Huskies Football taking a dunk for the team. Tah-Dah productions will be there spinning tunes throughout the event, then after dark falls it’s time for a light show that kicks off the biggest out door dance party on the North Coast to entertain the crowd before the fireworks. This year we have recognized the need for shorter wait times in lines for kids with special needs. Look for the autism awareness skip the line signs at most kids activities.
The Annual apple pie eating contest will start at 7 pm in front of the main stage. Fortuna businesses, service clubs and community groups will have an opportunity to sign up a representative to go head to head for the title and trophy. The California Conservation Corps took it the last two years and will be back to defend their title. Various vendors will be on hand to see their stuff as well as sweet treats like cotton candy, candy apples, fresh made mini donuts, shaved ice and more. Hot chocolate, coffee, chips, candy and burgers and hot dogs will be available through the end of the Fireworks show for purchase at the Babe Ruth Snack Shack.
A Family BBQ from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm will be put on by the Native Sons of the Golden West. A beer booth serving an all Fortuna Eel River Brewery selection will also be on tap with all proceeds going towards the cost of the event. This year’s menu will include tender seasoned Tri-Tip or barbecued chicken plates with potato salad, watermelon, corn on the cob and a dinner roll and will be available for $10 each. Kids can enjoy a hot dog plate with chips and watermelon for $5. Make your dinner plans now and help support the event.
Fireworks will start at dark. Parking is available on Rohnerville Road just past Newburg Park in the McLean Field. The fireworks festival is requesting a $5 donation to help with the cost of the fireworks, but no one will be turned away if they choose not to donate. Because of the festivities, there will be no general parking in the Newburg Parking lot. Handicap parking is available in both the McLean lot as well as along the fence line behind EPT.
Everyone is encouraged to bring your own chairs or blanket, or sit in the bleachers. Feel free to bring your own legal fireworks, but for everyone’s safety, they must be lit on the pavement, behind the stage in the main parking lot. Please no lighting them in any grass areas due to the large volume of small children. We are also not allowing hot BBQs or pets in to the event. We ask all those who attend the event to please use the provided garbage cans and recycling receptacles and to help by cleaning up any trash they bring to keep the park beautiful.
The Fortuna Fireworks Festival is only made possible by the generous donations from the community through sponsorship’s allowing the kids activities to stay incredibly affordable, to pay for the fireworks and other costs associated with putting on the event. The all-volunteer organizers mission is to provide the community with a family friendly event that celebrates our nations independence.
This year we are planning on having the biggest fireworks display ever in the events nine year history. Last year Bear River Casino provided a huge sponsorship to expand the show and although they are not able to continue that large of a sponsorship this year, the business community has stepped up to help continue the bigger firework display. Tina Taylor, co-chair and event coordinator said “It always amazes me by the way our businesses step up and stand strong together to make great events like this possible in Fortuna. Its not just a phrase, without them stepping in, we really couldn’t continue to do this event!”
So please join us in the Friendly City as we light up the Eel River Valley skies and celebrate our Countries Independence Day. “We are very excited that this year our fireworks show in Fortuna will be even more amazing than it has in the past” says event co-chair Sue Long. “The show this year will run just shy of a half hour and compliment the rest of the festival that the Fortuna business community has continued to support over the years”.
But even with all of the support the event comes with a hefty price tag. Donations are still needed to cover the cost of the event. If you are interested in donating please check out our Facebook Page for sponsorship information or simply make checks payable to FFF and mail to PO Box 491 Fortuna, CA 95540. All businesses donating $250 or more can drop off a banner at Wendt Construction that will be placed on the Newburg Park fence as a sponsor the week before the event.
For more information please email fortunafireworks@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook!
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