Budget short for festival fireworks

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - This year's 41st annual Three Rivers Festival faced cutbacks from the beginning. In planning next month's event, organizers worked to bounce back from a $65,000 deficit.

It would seem the work paid off. Mayumi Carboni, Executive Director for the TRF, said the group just reached its sponsorship goal with just one shortfall remaining, the grand fireworks finale.

The display costs about $26,000. As it stands, the budget is $2,000 short.

The Downtown Improvement District (DID) is turning to the public for help. It set up a website to collect donations for the display.

"[The community] can feel good about having helped make this event possible," said Richard Davis, President of DID.

That organization has also asked downtown Fort Wayne businesses to chip in what they can.

"There are a number of downtown businesses [that] will benefit from the presence of the festival this year and every other year," said Davis.

The TRF fireworks display is the biggest of its kind in Northeastern Indiana. Since thousands of families make the show an annual tradition, officials know it's not an ideal area in which to slim down.

"Even a little bit of a scale down would be a huge issue for the people who are looking forward to the fireworks," said Carboni.

To contribute to this year's fireworks show, click here for the DID's website.