The list of postponed fireworks shows grows, some still holding on

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – Fourth of July fireworks shows that were supposed to happen on July 3 across the Kansas City metro are fizzling out because of the weather, but some of them are holding on.

Lee’s Summit and the City of Blue Springs are monitoring the weather and plan to put on big shows.

While several events across the Kansas City metro have been postponed due to weather, the show goes on in Blue Springs.

“It’s just a fun time, exciting time where family can get together and have a good time and watch fireworks, always hope that the weather cooperates,” City of Blue Springs Communications Dir. Brian Spano said.

Families enjoyed the food trucks, bouncy houses and yard games, while Spano and his team kept an eye on the weather.

“You just kind of fly by the seat of your pants when it comes to the weather,” Spano said.

He said the event is always a blast. Organizers said last year they saw 2,000-3,000 people. They hoped just as many families would come out this year, despite the weather.

To avoid the mud and pooling water from rain earlier in the week, Spano said they moved the fun from the softball field to the tennis courts.

“We have a team of people that are working on this event, so we’re all communicating with each other,” said Spano.

“To say hey what can we do to either move something somewhere or do we delay something or cancel something, but we’ve never had to come to that point yet.”

Others across the Kansas City metro have postponed their events. The City of Kearney Fireworks Celebration will be postponed to Friday, July 5th, while Odessa rescheduled its fireworks event for Sunday. Due to severe storm damage from Tuesday night, Liberty Fest has been postponed to July 26th.

On the Kansas side, the Red White and Bluhawk event in Overland Park and Roeland Park’s Annual Northeast Johnson County Fireworks Display have both been rescheduled for this Friday.

The Annual Spectacular in Paola will now be on Saturday.

“I’ve had two shows already get postponed in the last two days,” Premier Pyrotechnics Regional Sales Rep. Trent Stephens.

“It’s going to expand our season normally we’re done by the 3rd or 4th. This year we’re already pushing out to the 7th to make sure that everybody gets to the show that they want, and make sure everybody stays safe.”

Stephens designed the fireworks show for Blue Springs, he said it takes about 10-12 hours for his team to set up hundreds of fireworks for the show. He’s also watching the weather closely to keep people safe, as well as taking extra precautions while setting up fireworks.

“As soon as we get them dropped and ready to go we cover them with plastic,” Stephens said.

“That way everything’s safe, water can’t get to them. A little rain doesn’t hurt us, torrential downpours can slow us down, as long as it’s not during the show, we can still shoot after that, but lightning is the big thing, lightning we have to get away because especially on a show like this where it’s electronically wired.”

Stephens believes he has the best job in the world. He started working in fireworks tents at 15 with his friend who died of cancer. They wanted to do this together. With every willow and peony that lights up the sky, that’s who Stephens remembers.

“Just joy knowing that he’s looking down and he’s seen that I went ahead and did it, even without him,” Stephens said with tears in his eyes.

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