The fund being collected by the Crozet Board of Trade to pay for the Fourth of July fireworks show—set for Saturday, June 29, at King Family Vineyards—received an anonymous gift of $20,000 in May, essentially securing the project.
The fund has a current goal of $40,000 to cover the cost of this year’s show and to pay the deposit for the 2025 show, which will be due in January. The show, an annual event since the end of World War II, is a Crozet community project and is supported solely by private donations.
The fund stood at $10,143 at the beginning of May. Subsequent gifts to the CBT through Paypal and the Go Fund Me website totaled $2,173. Substantial donations from Claudius Crozet Park, The Mudhouse, the Crozet Gazette and Ron and Gwynn Wade added $2,665, bringing the fund to $34,982 and leaving a little more than $5,000 to raise.
Until last year, Crozet’s customary 15-minute shows cost about $11,000 a year. In 2023, the show cost doubled to $22,000 and, according to the fireworks company, the 2025 show will likely cost $30,000. The hike is mainly caused by relentless inflation, but part of the increase is due to using larger fireworks because the King Family Vineyard site allows a larger debris field. In 2026, the Fourth falls on a Saturday and because Crozet will be competing with larger population areas to reserve a show, fireworks companies have warned the Crozet Community Association that the price may again double. The state requires fireworks operators to be licensed and only so many operators are available for the day. Crozet’s celebration is normally held on the Saturday before the Fourth of July to allow for a parade to be organized. The fact that Crozet’s event usually falls on an earlier day has allowed us to get lower rates. The CBT is trying to bank as much as possible now in anticipation of facing such a bill in two years.
To make a contribution, visit gofundme.com/f/2024-crozet-independence-day-fireworks or mail a check made out to the Crozet Board of Trade to P.O. Box 261, Crozet, VA 22932. Donations are tax-deductible. The CBT is an IRS-recognized non-profit established in 2003 to be able to raise funds for community projects and to promote the town’s prosperity.
In related business, the Board of Trade held its annual election of officers in May and elected Chelsea Powers, co-owner of Bluebird and Co., as president. Brenda Plantz (Parkway Pharmacy) remains treasurer and long-time president Mike Marshall (Crozet Gazette) is now vice president. Plantz and Marshall are among the founders of the CBT and have served more than 20 years in their roles.
