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Flat Rock plans larger Summer Blast next year after inaugural event; corporate sponsors commit to fireworks
Summary
City leaders and the Flat Rock Foundation reviewed this year's Summer Blast festival, thanked volunteers and sponsors, and announced plans for a bigger event next year with rides and funded fireworks from an amusement company and Ford Motor Company.
Flat Rock city leaders and members of the Flat Rock Foundation reviewed this year’s inaugural Summer Blast festival at a council meeting, thanking volunteers and corporate sponsors and outlining plans to expand the event next year.
Mayor Ballard said the foundation’s first Summer Blast at the community park and ball fields was “small, but ... very successful,” and that an amusement company has already agreed to return next year with roughly 14 rides on the same weekend. The mayor said the amusement company “was going to cover half the fireworks” next year and that Ford Motor Company pledged to cover the other half.
Council members and volunteer organizers credited the foundation and community partners for logistics and fundraising. Councilman Martin described the foundation’s formation in February 2011 and said events typically improve year-over-year as volunteers and vendors gain experience. Foundation member Jeremiah North and volunteer Tim Weishanker described wide community involvement: organizers reported more than 70 businesses and groups participating, including local restaurants, vendors and service organizations, and thanked police, fire and the Department of Public Works for their support.
Organizers and attendees also discussed why the festival had moved from the older Flat Rock Park site to the community park: carnival companies declined to return to the old park because of egress and flooding problems, organizers said. The council and foundation said they will rearrange the layout and locations of activities for next year so the historical society and other vendors are better placed and to improve traffic flow. The foundation also said it will expand charitable work — including a planned Thanksgiving turkey meal giveaway — and pursue broader regional participation.
No new permits or budget allocations were adopted at the meeting; the discussions were planning and recognition items and included public thanks to the foundation’s volunteers and sponsors.
