Red Bank Affirms Kaboom! Suspension
The once-annual fireworks show, still, will not go on.
Those holding out hope that Red Bank was bluffing, or merely waving a false flag in an attempt to dissuade 100,000 or more out-of-towners from descending on the downtown for an annual July 3rd fireworks show in an effort to keep it exclusive and local should know, KaBoom! Fireworks on the Navesink is still canceled.
Though the announcement originally came down in February as talks between fireworks organizers and the borough on how to cover funding deficits had fallen through, some speculated publicly that they thought fireworks would still go on, in at least a diminished capacity if anything, and that the 50-year tradition would continue on without break.
Alas, the borough as stood firm on its position. With visitors likely planning their Fourth of July weekends now, the borough has posted a message on its website affirming the suspension of KaBoom, at least for this year.
From the borough's website:
The traditional July 3rd Fireworks on the Navesink event will not be held in 2012. The Borough apologizes to Red Bank’s many visitors who have enjoyed this long standing tradition. Due to the ever increasing cost of the event, a decision was made by the Governing Body and the Fireworks on the Navesink Committee to suspend this year’s presentation. In due time, we will be able to return this celebration that we have been so proud to host throughout the years.
The reason for the cancellation, er, suspension of the fireworks show came down to money. Organizers said the show, the biggest in New Jersey and one of the largest in the country, attracted more than 100,000 each year. With the cost of the fireworks, insurance, and especially police, rising each year, KaBoom was looking at a price tag of more than $250,000.
It didn't help that the borough was also recieving pressure locally from residents who were tired of the traffic and drunken brawls that have become associated with KaBoom in recent years. But local opinions weren't the only opinions. Criticisms came from outside forces, like Middletown Mayor Tony Fiore, who said he believed Red Bank should cover the cost of additional Middletown police patrols, disregarding the fact that many of Middletown's 66,000 residents also enjoyed the free fireworks show each year.
All of it amounted to too much and just like that an annual tradition was gone, like so many fireworks shot off into the night sky.
Yes, fireworks fans. KaBoom is still canceled.
Ira Spelvin
7:56 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The fireworks event is the victim of its own narcissistic gluttony. When problems developed because it was too big to manage safely, the "problem solvers" made it bigger, uglier, far less controllable, and more expensive for families. Finally, too-big-to-fail has done so.
Nofireworks
11:20 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I am so happy that this even will not take place. When I was young I always remembered going early to the even with my family. We would always have a picnic and be able to have a great time, after all it was a family event. The last time my family and I actually attended was about 15 years ago when leaving the crowd was so forceful and inconsiderate that one drunk almost fell into the baby carriage that my sister was pushing that had my young niece sitting in. If that wasnt bad enough a few moments later someone who just had to have that last cigarette prior to getting in their car almost burnt my niece because she could not pay attention to where she was walking. Fast forward 25 years and now you have an all out drink fest with everyone and then some coming down for the event. No room for picnics or (because of the drunks) families for that matter. If you still believe that this is a wholesome event head on over to the Red Bank train station. There you will see thousands of drunks attempt to pile on trains to the point of fist fighting their way on or even trampling the few children that some irresponsible parents have drug out to see the spectacle. This even needs to end and not just for 2012 either. There are multiple fireworks displays around this area that still hold to the family type of event without making it a St Patricks day type of alcohol induced mess. So I say good bye that this has been a long time coming.
Marjorie Smith
1:29 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
It's sad that so many people can't have a good time without a beer in their hand and ten or twelve in their bellies, leaving them witless, obnoxious, and smelly.
Fred M
6:29 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Maybe we can get Donald Trump to take over the Fireworks..The Donald always likes to see his name in lights..We can call it Donald Trumps Red Bank Fireworks...