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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Recession Puts Damper on July 4th Fireworks

Towns plan cheaper festivities—or none at all

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(Newser) – With times tight, many US towns are toning down their Independence Day festivities, the Washington Times reports. Rather than deal with the cost of pyrotechnics, police overtime, and even liability insurance, municipalities are scaling back on the big bangs and even switching to simpler ideas such as poetry contests, dog parades, and bike races.

Residents of one California city banded together for a save-our-parade fundraiser, which looks like it will save the day. No such worries in the nation's capital, however. "Nothing has changed,” said a National Park Service spokesman. A full slate of events gets under way July 3 on the National Mall.

Kent Gregory of the Sons of the American Revolution puts bunting on a Model A Ford before the Fourth of July parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., last year.
Kent Gregory of the Sons of the American Revolution puts bunting on a Model A Ford before the Fourth of July parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., last year.   (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
Hannah Wernher holds the 13-star American flag as the Mountain Fife & Drums from Lake Arrowhead, Calif., warm up in the fog before the Fourth of July parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., last year.
Hannah Wernher holds the 13-star American flag as the Mountain Fife & Drums from Lake Arrowhead, Calif., warm up in the fog before the Fourth of July parade in Huntington Beach, Calif., last year.   (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
18-month old Preslee Boyd sits on the shoulders of her father Ben Boyd as they watch the annual Fourth of July in Huntington Beach, Calif., last year.
18-month old Preslee Boyd sits on the shoulders of her father Ben Boyd as they watch the annual Fourth of July in Huntington Beach, Calif., last year.   (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
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3 comments
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kati
Jun 22, 09 10:30 AM CDT
No fireworks. Happy to hear it. Reply
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Observer
Jun 22, 09 1:48 PM CDT
I'd say have the Goldman Sachs Billionaires fund the fireworks displays. They are a tradition that should come before new highways and foreign wars. Fireworks are as American as pre-emptive airstrikes in Iraqistan. Reply
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chicken
Jun 22, 09 5:49 PM CDT
And poetry contests and dog parades are as American as a beret
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