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Wisconsin Rapids plans 'Freedom Fest' downtown for Fourth of July; city seeks sponsors to help cover rising fireworks costs
Summary
Mayor Matt Zacher said the city approved preliminary plans for a downtown Fourth of July event (Rapids Riverside Freedom Fest), including bands, a kids zone and fireworks; the city currently budgets about $25,000 for fireworks and is looking for sponsorships after a roughly 20% price increase.
Mayor Matt Zacher said the city has approved preliminary plans for a downtown Fourth of July celebration, tentatively branded Rapids Riverside Freedom Fest or Freedom Fest, and is seeking sponsors to help cover rising costs.
Planned activities include live bands from about noon until 9 p.m., a kids zone near the movie-theater parking lot, expanded vendor placement to encourage foot traffic across downtown, and a transition after 9 p.m. into a national-anthem moment followed by fireworks. Zacher said Friends of Rapids Music will help book bands and that parks staff and volunteers will coordinate logistics.
The city currently budgets approximately $25,000 for fireworks, Zacher said, and he reported the price of fireworks has increased about 20%. To keep the program sustainable the council approved a sponsorship program and Zacher said he will solicit businesses, families and other donors to defray costs. "The city sponsors about $25,000 worth of fireworks," he said.
Zacher and the host discussed contingencies for weather (a one-day rain date for fireworks) and community participation, including plans to invite local officials, school representatives and law-enforcement leaders to participate in festival activities and fundraiser events. Zacher emphasized the festival should grow from community leadership and volunteers, not be only a city-run event.
