Pierce County city’s first-ever fireworks show will celebrate America’s 250th
Edgewood will have its first city-sponsored fireworks show July 3 to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary.
On May 26, the city council unanimously authorized $14,120, which represents $1 per Edgewood citizen, to go to the one-time fireworks’ event. Mayor Dave Olson told The News Tribune via email that he asked the council to approve the budget request, and that there are no plans to make it a recurring event.
Olson said this will be the first city-sponsored professional fireworks show in its 30 years as an incorporated city.
The funds come out of the city’s general fund. Hardeep Goraya, the city’s finance director, said at the meeting that he was comfortable taking $14,120 out of the city’s $9 million general fund expenditure for the celebration.
“$14,000 is not even .1%” Goraya said.
The show will be about 14 to 15 minutes and will commence at 10 p.m., according to Olson. It will be held at Edgewood Community Park.
“It’s gonna be more than a fireworks spectacular,” Olson said in the meeting.
The celebration will start at 7 p.m. There will be food trucks, entertainment, a band, face painting and other family friendly activities. Olson wrote in his email that professional vocalist Erin Calata will perform the National Anthem before the fireworks show. She is the widow of Pierce County deputy Dom Calata, who was killed in 2022.
“I think anything to bring the community of Edgewood together and provide options on as many days as possible where we don’t have to go down the hill into Federal Way is a good thing,” Council member Jason Ramirez said in the meeting.
Olson said there will be plenty of parking out in the field on the backside of the park, along with space at some nearby businesses and churches, for the celebration.
