‘Spectacular’ changes for July 4 show in Kennewick. But the best view may cost more

The city of Kennewick is working with professional management to put on a more spectacular fireworks show, with more entertainment and food for sale before the show, this July 4.

Options for how to pay for it are still being discussed, but one possibility is to establish a premium viewing area where they would charge a higher price.

In the past, admission has been $5 a carload for people to enter the Columbia Park.

In recent years the River of Fire fireworks display was managed by nonprofits that used it as a fundraiser.

But that has not proved viable. The nonprofits struggled to get volunteers to staff it on a holiday, said Emily Estes-Cross, parks, recreation and facilities director for Kennewick, at the last Kennewick Council workshop.

The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce produced the event for 20 years, before stepping back. Then the Tri-Cities Water Follies Association organized it in 2018 and 2019.

The Three River Carousel Foundation then took over, but the 2020 fireworks show was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the group already had announced canceling the 2021 show when Washington state restrictions were lifted June 30.

So, the fireworks show was rescheduled and was free that year.

River of Fire show organizers already were challenged before the pandemic after the barge used to put on the show over the water on the Columbia River was decommissioned in 2017.

For the next three shows, the fireworks had to be fired from the shoreline.

“Frankly, it is not as spectacular as an over-the-river River of Fire celebration,” Estes-Cross said.

And the shoreline launch created other issues.

Park roads, along with the Golf Tri-Plex and Bite at the Landing restaurant, had to be closed.

And an exclusion zone around the launch area limited space for viewing and parking.

2022 fireworks

This year the city is working with VenuWorks, which manages the Three Rivers Convention Center and the Toyota Center, to put on River of Fire.

VenuWorks already has found a barge that can be used to launch a 15- to 18-minute show from the river, Estes-Cross said.

It is working on adding more activities and entertainment. Live music by local and regional performers and more food options, such as food trucks, are being considered.

The prime viewing spot for the fireworks will be the area near the Veterans Memorial by the park’s main entrance off Highway 240, with more parking added to the west.

There should be fewer road closures and less disruption to using the park, Estes-Cross said.

A prime sponsor of the event has been found, but not announced yet.

The price to attend — which will technically be by a requested donation — has yet to be finalized.

July 4 is on a Monday this year, which is a low attendance night for events, and more importantly there have been some inconsistent years since the barge was decommissioned, Estes-Cross admitted.

Those factors are being considered while setting the price.

The city again plans to cover the cost of the fireworks, as it encourages people to attend the display to cut down on violations of Kennewick’s fireworks ban. VenuWorks will handle parking and crowd control.