05/30/2025
July 3rd Fortuna Fireworks Festival:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
A long long time ago.....Dennis Wendt, Alan Baird and others purchased fireworks and put on quite a show at Newburg Park. It started as an employee event and as more people heard about it, the community started showing up. Softball games, BBQ's and more were enjoyed until dark.
Fast forward to 2009 when the City said this could no longer happen unless a licensed pyrotechnician was hired. After a lot or scrambling, PyroSpectaculars was contacted as they were providing a show in Benbow on July 4th. They agreed to come a day earlier and put on a show for Fortuna, which is how the July 3rd celebration came about. That first year Wendt Construction paid for the fireworks because Dennis didn't want to disappoint the people that had come to expect a show. For the next five years HOPS in Humboldt subsidized the show for whatever amount was needed to make up the shortfall between local business donations and the cost of the fireworks. Since 2016 the community and the proceeds from the sale of wristbands at the event have provided the funds needed to pay the bills.
This event has become a Fortuna tradition, but it is only able to function due to donations from the business community and private individuals and from volunteerism the day of the event.
It takes about 50 volunteers to ensure that all runs smoothly and safely.
Volunteers are needed for set up (1:00 pm); kids' activities (5:00 pm to 8:30 pm; clean up (10:30 pm to 11:30 pm) and more. Each bounce house must be monitored. Kids games must be organized and supervised. Clean up can be crazy! There are garbage cans throughout the event, yet people throw their trash on the ground.
This was a favorite event for Denny, and Ron and I make it a priority to continue the tradition. Tina Taylor is the co-chair for the committee, and it wouldn't be possible to pull it all together without her tireless efforts.
Please VOLUNTEER and ask your friends and family to join you.
Sue Long
