No KaBoom. So, Now What?
With the annual fireworks show canceled, there's a holiday void in its place. What should fill it?
Photos
The annual KaBoom! Fireworks on the Navesink summer extravaganza attracted well over 100,000 people each year for its July 3rd fireworks show, which organizers said was the largest in New Jersey and was one of the largest in the entire country.
When the KaBoom Committee announced Wednesday that the 2012 iteration of the more than 50 year tradition had been canceled, reactions were varied. Many mourned the loss of the event, even if it’s only temporary, while others thought the entire thing had grown too large and needed to be adjusted in at least some way.
Unfortunately, with KaBoom’s success came some problems. Not only did rowdy crowds cause some issues, but costs associated with the event outpaced even the number of attendees each year. In 2011 alone, the KaBoom! Committee racked up approximately $300,000 in fees. With KaBoom unable to fund the event entirely with donations and corporate sponsorships, Red Bank Council effectively canceled the event by saying the borough would not help float any of the bill. And thus, KaBoom 2012 was no more.
Still, the news does not mean that KaBoom! is gone the way of the dodo. Organizers want to bring it back, but acknowledge that the event could do with some adjustment. One goal of both the KaBoom! Committee and the borough is to see the event become a bit more intimate. The surging crowds, though well handled by police, put undue stress on the borough. Many have said they believe the event lost the family atmosphere it once had.
With no KaBoom! Fireworks on the Navesink apparently happening this year, Red Bank currently finds itself with a July activity void. There’s been talk of hosting some type of event this July 3rd, though officials don’t know what best fits. What would you like to see happen in Red Bank this July 3rd? Fill out the poll or drop us a comment in the comment section below.
Tj Brustowicz
10:06 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Last year on July 4 Shore Flicks showed Independence Day at Veteran's Park in Hazlet. Though we'll be doing our regular movie series at Riverside Gardens later in the summer, I've reached out to RB Parks & Rec about moving that holiday event to Red Bank this year in lieu of the fireworks, using our big 40' inflatable screen. I could even see doing two movie nights, back-to-back on the 3rd & 4th.
lawrence williard
10:07 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I think RB should have bitten the bullet and ponied up some cash for the event. It's a rare thing to say your tiny town plays host to 150,000 people for an annual event. Even if all those people aren't buying stuff from business that night or eating at restaurants that night, the fireworks show and RB remains in their mind. That event helps RB claim that it's a destination town. Poor decision on council's part.
Joe Henry
3:03 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I agree with you. It takes the whole spirit of July 4th out of it. Red Bank was a great town years ago with its merchants, but now it is all about parking meters and increased fees. The merchants will surely miss it. A very bad business decision by Red Bank, but money and greed is their business model...do less for maore!
Susan Albright
2:08 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I agree with Lawrence Williard. It is sad to see an amazing tradition abandoned because of the lack of funding. Although I did not live here during the "Dead Bank" era it seems Red Bank is becoming 'Dead Bank' again with these kinds of decisions. Riverside Gardens Park already hosts movies in the park during the summer along with jazz nights and songwriters night weekly. Replacing Kaboom with a movie doesn't seem appropriate. I would be willing to volunteer my time to brainstorm with like-minds to come up with a way to actually keep Kaboom as an annual event in Red Bank.
Joe Henry
3:00 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Red Bank Fireworks have been a tradition going back years. So much is collected in re taxes and it is a real shame that they are gone. We will go to the Macy's Fireworks Display instead. Red Bank has gotten too cheap!
Lana Sorrentino
3:39 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
I grew up in Fair Haven. I remember when we just called it "the fireworks on the Navesink," not Kaboom Fest. The Kaboom Fest implies lots of out of county folks coming into the once intimate setting for locals. I agree with the article above: "One goal of both the KaBoom! Committee and the borough is to see the event become a bit more intimate. " How about changing the name, drop Kaboom, and bring it back to the old fireworks show with a family setting. Revenue isn't everything. Reduce the advertising dedicated for this event. Fewer spectators will reduce the stress and costs to the Red Bank police department and Boro.
Joe Henry
3:45 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
As a kid growing up in the 60's it was the Red Bank Fireworks. I don't have an issue with Kaboom...we went to the Molly Pitcher every year at their feast and it was lovely. Hovnanian should jump in and rescue the Kaboom Fireworks show. It is great for the local economy, but Red Bank has gotten cheap over the years. Look at all the merchants we have lost...Roots, TJ McMahon's, Prowns, Carroll Stationers, and the list goes on. Red Bank is not what it once was....it was a cozy and friendly town.
Yankee Doodle Dandy
9:46 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
No one is happy about the fireworks being cancelled.... Maybe it's a good scare tactic so more businesses , large and small, mom & pop businesses included, will donate to the festivity! Instead of having Rumson mirror Red Bank's fireworks simultaneously, how about combining efforts, relocate the barge a little more East so all can enjoy.
rbresident
8:46 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012
I guess the people commenting don't know the reality of the red bank fire works. The event has severely over grown the town and the local police forces. The past few years has been a disaster of fights, damage to property, 13 year olds drunk and vomiting in the streets and even more. There isn't enough money for the amount of police needed. It was going to be only a matter of time before someone was severly injured or until a serious emergency occurred and responders couldn't reach it because of the out of control crowd. MANY people are very happy about this decision and a majority of them are red bank residents because they know the hassle this time of year is. Give it to another town and see how much they like it. Because they won't.
Paul
12:43 am on Saturday, February 18, 2012
Stop the major advertising like someone else mentioned and tone down the fireworks. Don't make it as grand as the "Macys" and go back to having a regular town fireworks display. Who will travel just to see an ordinary fireworks display? Once the word gets out that it is just a regular small town display the numbers will drop back down to the "intimate" setting. Every town deserves some type of fireworks display. Are they going to do away with Christmas next?
rbresident
9:13 pm on Saturday, February 18, 2012
There'd be no way to tone them down. It's a known fact that more than half of the people don't go to the fireworks for the actual fireworks they just go for the environment and for the drinking. Or to drink before and stumble around the town. The fire works are way to well known to not have a huge turn out.