GET READY FOR THE BIG BANG!

This photo of past fireworks here in The Dalles by Amanda Lea and posted on Fort Dalles Fourth Facebook page shows the trio of beauty that is our land, our water and our works. Happy Fourth of July to all our readers!

By Tom Peterson

The Dalles is among a small group of communities that will enjoy a fireworks show this Fourth of July.

And it’s going to be big - think comets, bursts, strobes and glitter.

Set to go off at around 10 p.m., the display expects to rival some of the largest had in The Dalles with an estimated run of about 20 minutes, said Doug Kirchhofer, member of the Fort Dalles Fourth committee. 

The volunteer group that  includes Kirchhofer, Matt Herriges, Gretchen Sharp, Angie Herriges, Annie Wring, Rachel Carter, Marty Hiser, Sally Miner, Nolan Hare and Cynthia Kortge pulled a huge sparkler out of their hats this year. 

Kirchhofer said Western Display Fireworks, which typically, does 230 shows a year was down to just 38 because of the pandemic. But president of the company, Heather Gobet, liked the possibilities of making a statement in The Dalles, especially since Portland’s KATU Channel 2 will be doing a live broadcast of the show. 

“Western Display loves our location,” added Kortge, noting our river bend on the Columbia allows for the largest rockets in their arsenal because of the huge fallout area for the pyrotechnics. 

“Not even Portland, Fort Vancouver or Seattle can have the rockets we have,” she said. 

Kirchhofer said they had to see the diamonds through the rubble this year to pull it off. 

When it became apparent that most shows were being cancelled, the group put the idea out about getting the local show televised. That eventually led to the commitment from KATU television station. 

“They thought it was great,” Kirchhofer said. “The crew was excited to get out there and do something different than covering riots.”

And Western Display added to the fire by donating $10,000 in additional rocketry beyond the committee's $35,000 budget derived from sponsors and City of The Dalles transient room taxes.

That’s truly more bang for your buck.

The live coverage will allow folks to watch the show from their own television in the event they cannot find a safe viewing point.

The committee had to do some quick thinking to bring the show to fruition with the advent of the pandemic, said Kortge, noting the regular way of funding the program through mailers was not going to work.

“We did not feel like we could do that,” she said. 

And then one good deed begets another. 

The committee ingeniously found a way to honor high school graduates under the rules of social distancing.

The committee suggested each The Dalles High School senior receive their own banner, and that they be hung on light poles downtown. The idea was met with a rush of support and raised some $12,000, and the banners were hung. That momentum then led to businesses leading the way for funding the fireworks display. Sponsorships for this year’s event came rolling in.

The Fort Dalles Fourth committee thanks the following sponsors for making Fort Dalles Fourth possible this year: RED, WHITE & BLUE Sponsors: A Kidz Dental Zone, Columbia Gorge Affordable Homes, Hattenhauer Energy LLC., Timmons Law P.C. Holiday Inn Express The Dalles, our HOMETOWN USA sponsor: Columbia Gorge Toyota, our SPIRIT OF ’76 Sponsors: Cascade Square Merchants, First Interstate Bank, Optimist Printers, Kortge Wheat & Cattle Co. Westwind Frame & Gallery, and Smoke Wring BBQ and generous donations from Bernert Barge Lines and Western Display Fireworks.

Mid-Columbia Medical Center and Columbia Gorge Toyota are also sponsoring the television coverage.

Bernert Barge Lines in The Port of The Dalles has donated use of their barge as well as staff for where the fireworks are launched.  They typically anchor the boat in the river between the Union Street Dock and The Dalles Marina based on wind conditions. Hare thanked them for their contribution, noting it cuts costs for the display by more than $10,000.  

The committee also had to flex this year to ensure the safety of the public. In response to Gov. Kate Brown's social distancing orders, public viewing areas will be closed. 

The following public gathering locations to view fireworks will be closed on July Fourth  from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. 

• Union Street from 2nd to 1st Street including Lewis & Clark Festival Park and the Union Street Boat dock

• Sorosis Park overlook

• Riverfront Park

• Riverfront Trail from The Dalles Boat Basin through Union Street Boat dock

This will be the seventh such display since Kirchhofer and Hare resurrected the tradition in 2014.The Dalles used to be a ghost town on the Fourth of July, said Hare, noting the vacuum because of the loss of the Fort Dalles Rodeo.

Kortge, who handles marketing and promotion, said this is a hectic week for the group of volunteers managing the final details of the show. Clearances through the Coast Guard, The Federal Aviation Administration and permits from the City of The Dalles all have to be in place, as one small example.

But it’s worth it in the end. 

“It’s a fun event,” she said. “I love this community. I live here. I grew up here. It’s a great place to raise kids.”

VETERAN BANNERS STILL AVAILABLE

Fort Dalles Fourth welcomes our #HomeTownUSA days in downtown The Dalles July 1 through Labor Day Weekend this year.

Have a Veteran you'd like to honor or have remembered year after year in our historic downtown?

Get a photo/information and contact Optimist Printers. 541-296-2954 to have one made in time for this year's banner season.

New banner prices $199 or 3 years for $395.

After 3 years, banners achieve "legacy" status and can go up with a $99 individual donation or community fund raise for the FD4 community fireworks display.

We have 65 legacy banners and 65 more light posts available for Hometown USA Days.

Thank you and let's keep getting more and more of our vets recognized downtown.

- Fort Dalles Fourth committee

Mortars and rockets at the ready on a Bernert Bargeline Barge in the port of The Dalles circa 2014. Bernert is again contributing its staff, barge and tugboat to place this years fireworks display between the Union Street Dock and The Dalles Marina. Portland KATU 2’s Steve Dunn and his son Logan will be broadcasting the show live on ABC.

Another great from Fort Dalles Forth Facebook page displaying the Stars and Stripes on The Dalles City hall in past years.