Last year the Family 4th at Lake Union was saved thanks to donations from Seattlites and local companies from the area. Over $500,000 was raised and the fireworks show that followed was considered one of the best ever by many.
The success of last year’s fund-raising doesn’t mean this year’s celebration is all set, however. Although 68 percent of the event budget has been secured, another $162,000 needs to be raised by March 1 in order for the 2011 show to go on.
If you’re interested in helping, there’s a couple ways to do it.
You can make a donation directly to Family 4th at http://family4th.org by March 1st (site may load slow due to increased traffic).
You can also show your support and encourage others to join the campaign by downloading one of the Family 4th widgets to your website or blog.
If you’re planning to stick around Queen Anne to celebrate New Year’s this year, then there are plenty of places you can go for a prime view of the fireworks at the Space Needle at midnight.
Photo courtesy of the Seattle Center.
Here are just a few places you can ring in the New Year, for free, around the neighborhood.
Center House, Seattle Center—Ring in 2011 with the rocking sounds of The Machine, and witness the fireworks up close and personal.
For many years, The Machine has been playing around the Pacific Northwest, offering the best PARTY music in town. When you come and see The Machine, you will only hear DANCEABLE, FUN, PARTY rock and roll, AND you will have a great time.
Kerry Park—Climb up to Kerry Park, Seattle’s quintessential viewpoint (211 W Highland Dr.) to see the city skyline, Elliott Bay, and of course, the fireworks at the Needle. But remember, Kerry Park is a small space and likely to be packed, so get there early to scope out a prime viewing spot.
The South Slope—If you’re looking to have a more low key New Year’s, while still enjoying the festivities, you can have your own private viewing party from a number of sites along the south slope. Just drive around and pull over anywhere you have a clear view of the Needle. Advantages: these viewing spots are likely to be less crowded, and offer you a quick way home if you live nearby.
From the Water—If you’re lucky enough to own a boat, or know a friend who does and are comfortable battling the cold and wind, the view of the fireworks will be picturesque from Elliott Bay. Ahoy matey!
Wondering what’s in store for New Year’s at the Needle? Check out this footage of the 2010 New Year’s fireworks show, courtesy of PJtheFey.
While the weather today left the possibility of snow open, the forecast predicts mostly sunny skies on Friday, December 31, with a high of 40 degrees, a small chance of precipitation, and an overnight low of 28 degrees. So wherever you plan on watching the fireworks, the skies should be clear.
Have a favorite—and free—place to catch the fireworks? Comment below to add them to our list. Happy New Year!
The 4th of July weekend is a time for fun, family and of course, fireworks! However it also tends to be a few days where there’s heightened risk for accidents. In an effort to keep the community safe, the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Fire Department have released this public safety announcement:
The Seattle Police Department and Seattle Fire Department would like to remind the public that there are no legal fireworks in the City of Seattle.
The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.
Fireworks pose a fire hazard to property and present a safety risk to those who use them. Every year the Seattle Fire Department responds to fireworks-related fires and injuries. Each and every one of these incidents could have been prevented.
On the 4th of July, 911 centers become overloaded with non-emergency fireworks calls. DO NOT call 911 unless you have a life-threatening emergency and need immediate help from police, fire or medics. Unnecessary 911 calls block people with real emergencies from reaching 911 and getting help.
Any fireworks-related fires or injuries should be reported directly to 911. Other fireworks violations may be reported by calling the Seattle Police non-emergency number at (206) 625-5011.
The Seattle Police and Seattle Fire Department wish you a safe and enjoyable 4th of July celebration!
Happy 4th of July Queen Anne! Have a great weekend, and if you feel like sharing some of your favorite pictures of the fireworks, send them in to tips@queenanneview.com.
Donations from private citizens and corporations made this year’s July 4th fireworks show possible, but what about next year?
Our news partners The Seattle Times found out yesterday that event producer One Reel has begun soliciting donations again.
After this year’s ailing Fourth of July fireworks celebration at Gas Works Park was rescued by business leaders and individual donors, sponsors of the annual party have announced a new funding strategy for 2011.
More donations.
One Reel, which puts on the fireworks show, said in a news release Thursday: “While One Reel didn’t initially consider soliciting donations for the 2010 event, the overwhelming public response to saving this cherished Independence Day celebration caused the organization to rethink the sponsorship model that has been in place since the event was first created in 1988.”
Previous funding for the fireworks shows has come from corporate sponsors.
Instead, said One Reel, beginning this week donations and pledges for next year’s show can be placed at family4th.org.
It’s that time of year again: the list of events is out for this year’s Family 4th at Lake Union. The Independence Day celebration at Gas Works Park was almost scrapped this year due to lack of funding, but will go on thanks to nearly 300 businesses and individuals who banded together to save the fireworks show.
If you were like me last year,and missed the memo about the late Puget Sound fireworks (I know there were others because I was just one of a couple hundred disappointed folks who set up camp at Kerry Park only to hear the Lake Union show in the distance), then make sure you pick out a nice spot on the east side of the hill to enjoy the festivities!
If instead you’ll be heading down to Gas Works Park for the show, here are a few events that will be going on:
Field Games, Hosted by Starbucks: Starbucks is hosting activities and fun field games on the Playfield featuring coffee sack and three-legged races, coffee bean bag tosses, and more.
Acrobatics and Circus Arts: The School of Acrobatics & New Circus Arts will provide a static aerial rig, tightwire, and juggling equipment to engage, entertain and delight kids in the exploration of acrobatics and circus performance.
Euro-Bungy and Climbing Walls: This all-ages activity center offers participants the choice of jumping mid-air, twirling, and spinning on a bungee trampoline platform or climbing the face of a 24’ ft. rock wall and overcoming the challenges on the way to the top.
Face Painting: Kids can let their faces be the canvas as talented face-painters use their artistry to airbrush colorful and creative designs to decorate smiling faces and celebrate the holiday.
Kite Making: Kids are invited to dive into a wide variety of art supplies and kite-making tools to create a kite that expresses their unique artistic vision.
Wacky World: A giant, inflatable play center for kids 3-12 is 120’ feet of slides, tunnels, obstacles and fun.
SPD is working on a similar traffic control plan as last year, which will allow residential access to the neighborhood only. A map is being worked on and will soon be posted at family4th.org. Both the Fremont Chamber of Commerce and the Wallingford Chamber of Commerce websites will be posting a list of local businesses staying open late for anyone waiting for post-fireworks traffic to subside.
Seattle restaurateur Tom Douglas announced on 97.3 KIRO FM’s Dave Ross Show yesterday that he would donate $5,000 toward the effort, kicking off a rush of pledges from businesses and individuals to raise the necessary $500,000 for the fireworks.
According to MyNorthwest reports, Starbucks and Microsoft, both homegrown right here in the Seattle Metropolitan area, announced that they would pitch $125,000 each for a total of $250,000–or half of the funds needed–if Seattle businesses and community members were able to raise the remaining $250,000. And this morning the running total of pledges reached the $500,000 mark! Congrats Seattle! The fireworks have been saved!
(Full disclosure: Next Door Media, which powers QueenAnneView.com, has donated to this fund.)
As the realization started sinking in that Seattle’s only 4th of July fireworks show has been canceled, some local celebrities and businesses are donating money to save the annual tradition. On the Dave Ross show this morning, restaurateur Tom Douglas started the campaign to save the fireworks show by announcing he will donate $5,000. Dave Ross followed suit by donating some of his own money. The list of donations keeps growing, with the ultimate goal of raising $500,000 by Monday, April 5th.
To make a pledge of a minimum of $1,000, corporate or individual, go to MyNorthwest.com/fireworks or e-mail savethe4th@mynorthwest.com. If the funds needed to save the 2010 fireworks show can be raised in the allotted time, then the pledges will be collected upon and sent to One Reel.
One Reel marketing and communications director Mikhael Williams talked with our sister site My Wallingford this morning about Ross’s plan. “We would be so excited and thrilled if we could pull this off this year, but has to happen very quickly,” Williams says, “From our perspective, the window was closed on a title sponsorship because of the traditional expectations and benefits that they receive. If there are people in the community who want to rally around the event, who don’t have the traditional expectations of sponsorship, we would happily put this on.”
(Full disclosure: Next Door Media, which powers QueenAnneView.com has donated to this fund.)
Many Quee Anne-ers caught a surprise fireworks show on Saturday night. For those of you who, like me, missed out on the action, we hear there’s another show planned over Elliott Bay on Saturday, March 27.
The West Seattle Blog is reporting that General Construction Company will be celebrating its centennial with some big lights at around 7:30 p.m. on the 27th. From the West Seattle Blog,
Coincidentally, that night is also this year’s date for “Earth Hour”– 8:30 pm, an hour after the calendar says the fireworks will be happening.
So there you have it. At 7:30 p.m., climb up to Kerry Park to catch the fireworks show, then go home and turn your lights off for the environment at 8:30. I’ll definitely be there!
(Thanks to the West Seattle Blog for digging this up!)
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Ever since One Reel announced that it would have to 