Last month, the fire marshal recommended that Montgomery County scrap its traditional Independence Day fireworks display.
Now, County Public Affairs Officer Sue Tucker says officials instread are planning county-sponsored fireworks displays to commemorate the nation’s birthday — one on Saturday (July 1) at the SoccerPlex in the South Germantown Recreational Park and another on July 4 at Einstein High School in Kensington.
Last month, Montgomery County Fire Marshal Mike Donohue suggested to County Council members that they call off the fireworks because his department had trouble finding a venue with adequate parking and safety precautions.
Tucker said the county’s usual launching pad for the fireworks is Westfield Shopping Center in Wheaton but that mall personnel asked for a venue switch since there’s significant construction happening at the center.
That left the option of Olney Manor Recreational Park on Georgia Avenue, only “parks police didn’t feel that was a good site,” she said.
So the decision was made a few weeks ago to shoot off the traditional fireworks from Einstein along with a smaller pre-July 4 fireworks show in Germantown.
“Up until a few years ago, the county did two events,” she said. “Then they stopped because of funding … this will be the first time holding it in Germantown in quite a while.”
In the past, Independence Day celebrations in Wheaton have drawn at least 25,000 people. Between the two events planned for this year, Tucker said, the attendance total should be considerably higher.
The July 1 event in Germantown will be centered on families, with a giant slide and moonbounce for the children, as well as a free soccer clinic courtesy of Washington Freedom and D.C. United.
“The big deal of the night will be at 8 p.m. when the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will perform,” she said.
At Einstein High School three days later, families can take advantage of pre-fireworks entertainment beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The fireworks displays begin at about 9:15 each night.
