Collegedale weighs one-day July 4 celebration versus two-day 250th-anniversary plan; fireworks and planner services to go out to bid

Collegedale commissioners discussed options for next year's Freedom Festival, including a single July 4 celebration or a two-day expansion that would add a Friday concert (a proposed symphony performance) and keep the main fireworks and larger programming on Saturday.

Staff warned a two-day model would require more police and public-works staffing: officers and public-works employees worked 16-hour days during prior events, and commissioners stressed the need to protect regular officers' shifts. The city's plan envisions a smaller Friday event that would not require road closures and could be supported through the city's extra jobs program; the larger Saturday event would be the primary city-managed event and would be the item put out to bid for event management and fireworks.

Commissioners asked staff to gather price points for headliners and planners. Discussion cited the prior three-year fireworks contract value described in the meeting as "37" (transcript language unclear) and staff estimated they would likely start bids at roughly $40,000 and that a holiday premium could push costs to about $50,000; staff emphasized these are preliminary estimates and committed to getting formal bids. The commission agreed staff should put fireworks and event-planning services out to bid in approximately one month and to return with recommended line-item budget proposals, including separate line items for booking fees versus artist deposits.

Commissioners also considered community accommodation for religious groups and scheduling (for example, pushing fireworks later to allow Seventh-day Adventist residents to attend after sundown), and requested marketing focus around a single city-sponsored day if the city proceeds with only one main event. Staff will collect pricing and vendor availability and report back to the commission for direction.