This story was originally published at 4:47 pm onMay 15th. It has been updated.
Been vocal or upset about the Fourth of July fireworks being moved from July 4th to July 13th in 2019? Newport City Council and City Hall have heard you loud and clear.
City Council members will vote at their Regular Council Meeting on Wednesday, May 22nd to move the fireworks from Saturday, July 13th to Tuesday, July 2nd, according to phone calls with Mayor Bova, Councilor Leonard, and Councilor Napolitano on Saturday.
May 22nd Update – City council voted 5-0 to host the fireworks on Tuesday, July 2nd. No rain date. | More – Recap & Video: May 22nd City Council Meeting
Original Story
Planning your Fourth of July festivities and fun? Take note that the City of Newport’s Annual 4th of July Fireworks will take place nine days later than usual in 2019.
The City of Newport will break the usual mold of hosting its traditional Fourth of July Fireworks Display on whatever day July 4th lands on and will instead hold its display on Saturday, July 13th.
Mayor Jamie Bova told What’sUpNewp on Thursday afternoon that the change came down to cost, bids on the RFP, and the availability of vendors.
The request for City Council Action explains how they came the fireworks came to be on July 13th instead of July 4th.
“Bids were initially solicited for the July 04, 2019 fireworks on March 12, 2019 with a close date of Tuesday, April 02, 2019 at 2 pm. An addendum subsequently extended the closing date once more to May 09, 2019 at 2 pm with display option of July 05 and July 06 as alternative show dates. Atlas Pyrovision Productions was the only vender who responded by the May 09th deadline. However it was later determined that Fort Adams had events scheduled for July 6th which are incompatible with a firework display. After consultation between the City, Atlas Production and Fort Adams, a date of July 13th was mutually agreed upon,” the Request For City Council Action States.
While the event scheduled for July 6th at Fort Adams hasn’t been identified, and isn’t on the Fort’s public calendar of events, there is the Newport Regatta taking place in Fort Adams State Park on July 6th and 7th.
There’s also the possibility that a private event or wedding prevented the North Lawn from being available for the fireworks display. If so, that rental agreement would have most likely been made between the party and Fort Adams Trust and DEM months or even a year ago.
The entire North Lawn of Fort Adams, as well as other parts of Fort Adams State Park (where the fireworks are shot off form every year), need to be completely closed off during setup and the Fireworks Display. Making it difficult for any event that was already planned and/or agreed to and the fireworks display from happening at the same time.
Newport City Council will vote to award the bid (Action Item #5852/19 – RE: Award of Bid # 19-040 – July 04th Fireworks Display to be held on July 13th) at their Regular Council Meeting on Wednesday, May 22nd.
The fireworks show typically begins around 9:15 PM and lasts approximately 15 – 20 minutes.
In 2018, Newport City Council awarded the contract for the fireworks display to Pyrotecnico Fireworks, Inc. of New Castle, Pennsylvania. Pyrotecnico, the sole contract bidder in 2018, submitted proposals then for shows at three separate price points ($27,000, $30,000, and $33,000), as requested by the City. The final award amount was then determined by the level of donations that the City received from the public.
Of note, there will be fireworks on June 28th in celebration of the Pell Bridge 50th Anniversary Celebration, with a rain date for this event of June 30th. Full details on this event are to be announced, updates can be found here.
Other local Fourth of July fireworks displays that have been announced so far include Block Island on July 3rd, Bristol on July 3rd, Narragansett on July 4th, and Westerly on July 4th.
What’sUpNewp will provide more information on Fourth of July Firework Displays across the state as the date gets closer.