UPDATE: Because of the growth of the Grand Prairie housing addition, the Salina A.M. AMBUCS has moved its Skyfire shooting site. They now are scheduled to fire the show from the east side of Markley Road, east of the Salina Municipal Golf Course club house, according to Larry Pankratz. Prefered parking, for $20 a car will be in the parking lot at the club house, he added. VIP and donor parking will be south of the shooting site.
Skyfire is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Saturday.
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Like many event organizers in the time of COVID-19, the members of the Salina A.M. AMBUCS Club considered canceling this year's Skyfire Fourth of July event.
Afterall, the pandemic was having a financial impact on many of the individuals and businesses who in a normal year would donate to the annual fireworks spectacular, said Dave Tangeman, whose committee is in charge of organizing Skyfire.
But then, some Salina individuals with the means to help stepped forward and sparked what would become a successful fundraising effort even during the pandemic-induced economic downturn, he said. In the end, individuals, businesses, and foundations making donations of $5 to $15,000 exploded the fundraising effort to its goal of $26,000, Tangeman explained.
"The people of Salina have really come forward to help make this event happen," he said.
Skyfire is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. July 4 at the East Crawford Recreation Area. In case of rain, the fireworks will be shot the following night, Tangeman said.
This year's Skyfire will be bigger and better, with more than 2,000 shells fired during the 23 minute show, Tangeman explained.
"This year, we went to the fireworks vendor and told them we wanted to step up the show to the next level," Tangeman told Salina Post.
The show also will be computer choreographed so that the shells fire at the appropriate times to match the music, he said.
Additionally, the Skyfire event will provide VIP parking for $20 per car and any first responders and medical providers can get the VIP parking for free, according to information provided by the club.
Tangeman also noted that there is enough space at the East Crawford Recreation Area for people to follow social distancing guidelines.