RUTLAND, Vt. (WCAX) – It will be a quieter Fourth of July in Rutland with no fireworks for the second year in a row. Last year it was bad weather, but city leaders say this year’s sponsor dropped out due to rising costs.
Private donors like Rutland’s Chamber of Commerce funded Fourth of July fireworks in the Marble City for the past three decades.
After the event was canceled during the pandemic, the Paramount Theater picked up sponsorship but opted out this year because of rising costs.
Reporter Connor Ullathrone: What does it mean to not have fireworks on the fourth — that seems like a staple?
Rutland Mayor Mike Doenges: For many years before the chamber did it the city hadn’t done it before that. I like fireworks, I’m a fan. There are people who aren’t, you know, so depending on who you talk to, you’re going to get a differing opinion.
“You don’t need to go crash, boom, bang to celebrate a holiday like that,” said Margret Whittemore of Fair Haven.
But residents like Greg Cox of West Rutland say they will miss the display. “We always take our families. It’s been a tradition to go up on Campbell Road overlooking the city and watch the fireworks,” he said.
The mayor says paying for the event has jumped from around $5,000 to $12,000. “Now we’re looking for a new avenue because there’s a lot of people that would like to have fireworks in the city. We’re looking at what we can do to make that happen,” he said. He says that includes the city possibly picking up the bill
“We all benefit from this. People come to the fairgrounds to watch the fireworks, so yeah. let’s make it an event and let’s all share in the costs,” Cox said.
Killington is the closest town to host fireworks. Those are set to blast off Thursday at 9:30 p.m.