Sponsors join forces to keep fireworks display alive

Fireworks will ignite over Florida Weekly 4th Fest 2010 at Laishley Park. Some people consider Independence Day fireworks displays to be as American as baseball, hot dogs and apple pie. In Charlotte County, those sentiments are a given.

But a lack of community investment last year almost led Smugglers Enterprises Inc., the event’s primary sponsor, to forfeit this year’s annual spectacle in Punta Gorda.

Fortunately, because a host of businesses stepped up to the plate in 2010, sparks will fly in a very good way at Laishley Park on July 4.

Florida Weekly 4th Fest 2010 will be a day-long affair, attracting about 6,000 people. Admission is free, but organizers are encouraging a $3 donation at the gate to help offset expenses.

The festivities of the fourth include a Flatsmasters fishing tournament, live music by The Boogie- Men, RE/MAX hot air balloon rides, K-9 demonstrations and the usual copious amounts of food and beer. An expansive activities area for children — once outsourced to a separate company with a $5 admission cost per child — will be free this year, featuring a bounce house, clowns, face painting, a dunk tank and other kid-friendly activities.

EVANS Smugglers has been actively seek ing sponsorships from the community.

“People don’t realize that every year Smugglers loses money to put on the fireworks show,” said Chris Evans, Smugglers’ director of operations. “We spend a lot of cash, and don’t even come close to breaking even. But we do this because we love our community.”

How Smugglers saved the day

This year is not the first time the fireworks display has been in jeopardy.

“I’ve talked to people who think the fireworks were put on by the city every year,” Mr. Evans said. “But it was all done by the Kiwanis Club of Punta Gorda.”

The Kiwanians made sure the display was an Independence Day staple in Punta Gorda for 28 years. Then, in 2008, the group made an excruciating decision. Because of its limited resources, Kiwanis could no longer afford to foot the $50,000 tab to provide the spectacle for expectant Charlotte County residents.

It became all too clear that the fireworks that celebrate the land of the free come with a hefty price tag.

Smugglers Enterprises partners Bruce Laishley, Ron Evans, Rick Treworgy and John Hall decided the event was worth saving.

“They’re the heroes,” Chris Evans said. “They’re the ones willing to risk financial loss to keep a longstanding tradition in the community.”

With help from Mainstreet Punta Gorda and several other sponsors, Smugglers was able to defray some of the costs, and the show went on — from land, because barge-released fireworks would substantially crank up the expense.

As well-intentioned as Smugglers’ efforts were to save the spectacle, they took a significant financial hit in 2009. Finding it difficult to raise supplementary funds from other business partners in the community, Smugglers was forced to eat a large financial chunk of the community specter. It was then that Smugglers had to concede that even they could no longer afford to be chief sponsors of the fireworks.

Rather than let the event go by the wayside, Chris Evans and the Smugglers crew carved out time from packed daily schedules to launch a sponsorship campaign to keep the tradition alive.

Florida Weekly signed on as title sponsor. Other companies stepped up as key sponsors: Grand Aire Services Inc.; Pinnacle Employee Leasing; Yuengling Lager; ClearChannel Radio; Seaview 104.9 FM; Beach 98.9 FM; Kix Country 92.9 FM; NewsRadio 1580 WCCF-AM and WK11 1070 AM. Additional sponsors include Mosaic; Freedom Boat Club; Liberty Concessions; Millennium Physician Group; RE/MAX Anchor Realty; Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce; Strang, Olsen & Lynch, CPA, PA; Magnetic New Media; and Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce.

“Without our sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” Mr. Evans said. “We would have had to pull the plug, at least as far as Smugglers’ involvement goes. The sponsors are the ones keeping this alive.”

To make a donation, contact Chris Evans at 815-6623, or via e-mail at chrise@smugglers.com.

About 4th Fest

Florida Weekly 4th Fest 2010 will be held Sunday, July 4, at Punta Gorda’s Laishley Park. Although gates officially open at 3 p.m., RE/MAX Realty will offer balloon rides from 8 a.m. to noon. In addition, there will be a Flatsmasters Red, White and Blue Fishing Tournament, K-9 demonstrations by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and Punta Gorda Police Department, an interactive water fountain, and live music by The BoogieMen from 4 to 9 p.m. Fireworks begin over the water at 9 p.m. A donation of $3 is suggested.

Public parking is available at Laishley Park, with overflow parking available across the street at the Charlotte County Justice Center, 350 Marion Ave. Parking is also available at Laishley Crab House and the Laishley Marina boat ramp parking lots.

Smugglers — which owns and operates Laishley Crab House, Harpoon Harry’s and The Captain’s Table in Punta Gorda (the latter two at the tip of Fishermen’s Village), John Hall’s Goal Post Grill in Punta Gorda and Smugglers Culinary Catering — will offer special menus at the Crab House and Harpoon Harry’s on Independence Day. In addition, the company is taking the opportunity to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Harpoon Harry’s, with numerous special events July 3 and 4, including live entertainment, bathing-suit contests, raffles and an appearance by the Redneck Yacht Club of Englewood, with a barge providing entertainment from a live band.

For more information about the 4th Fest (including directions and a map), visit www.puntagordafireworks.com. For details on Smugglers’ restaurants and special Independence Day menus, visit www.smugglers.com. ¦
.. in the know
>> What: Florida Weekly 4th Fest 2010
>> When: begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 4
>> Where: Laishley Park in downtown Punta
Gorda
>> Details: There will be a Flatsmasters’ Red,
White and Blue Fishing Tournament, PGPD and
sheriff’s office K-9 demonstrations, interactive
water fountain, ample kids’ play area and live
music by The BoogieMen from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Fireworks begin over the water at 9 p.m. RE/
MAX tethered balloon rides run from 8 a.m. to
noon.
>> Parking: Public parking at Laishley Park,
Laishley Crab House and Lashley Marina boat
ramp parking lots. Overflow parking at the Justice
Center, 350 Marion Ave., Punta Gorda.
>> Cost: A $3 donation is suggested at the
gate.
>> Info: www.puntagordafireworks.com