GALLIA COUNTY, OH (WOWK) – With storms in the projected forecast for Thursday night, some communities had to cancel or postpone some Independence Day events.

The Gallia County Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday afternoon their fireworks display during the Gallipolis River Recreation Festival would be canceled. The Fourth of July Parade was moved back two hours from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday night.

Around 1 p.m. Thursday, the Gallia County Chamber of Commerce and the Gallipolis River Recreation Festival both posted the following statement to their Facebook pages:

“We are disappointed to announce that unfortunately, due to the extended weather forecast for today, the fireworks company contracted for this evening has made the decision to cancel the fireworks for tonight. There will be no rescheduled date,” the post said. “Entertainment for this evening will continue as planned and concessions will be open. Updates regarding the parade will be announced at 2:00 pm. We look forward to seeing everyone in the City Park!”

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The company set to put off the fireworks, Grand Finale Fireworks, says they began sharing their concerns about the weather with city officials on Wednesday evening. They said their primary concern was exposing the crew, equipment and materials to possible severe weather while on a barge in the Ohio River.

However, company officials say they “do not appreciate” the circumstances surrounding the announcement of the cancellation, and that they believe blame is being deflected their way.

Grand Finale officials say that during a phone call with the chamber and River Rec committee, they offered the chamber “countless” opportunities to choose another date, but were allegedly “stonewalled” during the call. According to the company, the chamber instead chose to “sever the rest of the contractual agreements by either party.”

“The circumstances, accusations, and misinterpretations surrounding the claims being offered by the Gallia Chamber of Commerce are ludicrous and out of line, and are nothing short of fabricated, fallacious statements to deflect blame on their contactor,” said Nick Carmigiano, owner and lead pyrotechnician of Grande Finale Fireworks. “In closing, we DO NOT appreciate the Gallia Chamber of Commerce publicizing our name, subsequently slandering it where we are now forced to monitor and mitigate incoming calls and media traffic bombarded with community complaints and misinterpretation.”

Carmigiano also said in regard to rumors that the company kept a deposit, that money is used to pay for staff and restocking fees when a cancellation occurs.

WOWK 13 News has reached out to the Gallia County Chamber of Commerce for more information on why the fireworks are not being rescheduled. We have not yet heard back.

The company was also set to handle Middleport’s fireworks just up the river in Meigs County, Ohio, Thursday night. Village officials said that based on safety, the forecast and Grande Finale’s recommendations, they will be postponing their fireworks show until 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 7.

Carmigiano says the company also offered to reschedule Gallipolis’ fireworks for this same date and time as Middleport, however, there was no interest from the chamber to reschedule whatsoever.

The storms rolling through the region also caused the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta to close down the carnival and Family Fun Zone to wait out the rain. Events and entertainment picked back up after the storms blew over the Capital City.

In Ripley, the Fourth of July Parade made it through the city streets before the rain, but city officials say they did cancel the hot air balloon rides as a safety precaution. Their carnival also temporarily closed due to the weather but has since reopened. The rest of the city’s events, including Thursday night’s fireworks, are scheduled to go on as planned.

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