SCOTIA — The Jumpin’ Jack’s Fourth of July fireworks display, a popular event that has drawn thousands to the village for decades, will not take place this year after village officials determined there were not adequate resources to keep attendees safe.
The cancellation was announced in a news release from the Village Board Friday, three weeks prior to the June 30 event. Mayor David Buccifferro declined to provide additional comment on the cancellation.
“As of this date, the village does not believe there are sufficient committed resources to ensure the safety of attendees, staff and the broader community,” the release reads. “As a result, the board has made the very difficult decision to not proceed with the event scheduled for June 30, 2023.”
The event’s cancellation comes just weeks after Jumpin’ Jack’s owner Mark Lansing Jr. reached out to the village trustees inquiring about the possibility of the display becoming a village-sponsored event due to the growing costs of the show that dates back to the 1970s.
Nearly 10,000 people from throughout the Capital Region attend the show each year, which costs upwards of $40,000 to put on.
Lansing said previously that he loses money on the event each year, and that he would continue to purchase the fireworks if the village were to take over the event.
Village lawmakers agreed to take over the event, but determined this week that the show could not move forward given the lack of safety personnel to monitor the crowd and assist with disbursement after the show ended.
Scotia Police Chief Daniel Harrigan did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
“As village residents and people who bring their families to this event each year, we share in the public’s disappointment,” the release reads. “We thank the public and Jumpin’ Jack’s for understanding that public safety is our shared utmost concern.”
Lansing on Friday said he was disappointed by the news, but understood the village’s position. Safety, he said, has always been his top priority when hosting the event.
“I’m upset about it,” Lansing said. “ I understand the village’s position, but it doesn’t mean that I’m happy about it.”
The cancellation marks the first time that Jumpin’ Jack’s annual fireworks display was canceled, outside of weather-related events and those missed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lansing said.
“Me and my staff all look forward to it and everybody’s kind of bummed that we’re not going to be able to pull it off this year,” he said.
He added that the annual concert that takes place at Freedom Park prior to the show is still set to take place, and that the U.S. Water Ski Team is still planning to perform as in years past, though he’s still waiting for final confirmation.
Lansing also said he has secured a contract to launch the display and is in the process of trying to determine if he can be refunded. Outside of that, he said, not a whole lot of planning has taken place.
Fireworks at Jumpin’ Jack’s have been a fixture in Scotia for decades and is the largest event that takes place in the village each year, drawing thousands from the greater Capital Region, who spread out across Collins Park, along the Mohawk River and on the Gateway Bridge that connects the village to Schenectady.
Lansing said officials have expressed concerns about the size of this year’s crowd, noting that the Sunnyside Road bridge, a popular exit point for those in attendance, is closed this year.
Last year’s event was marred by a stabbing that took place a short distance from the show at the same time people were leaving the event. The incident prompted a response from multiple police agencies throughout the county.
News of the cancellation spread quickly on social media, with dozens blasting the village’s decision after the news broke.
“This is so sad, this has been something everyone looks forward to every year,” one person wrote.
Lansing said he’s hopeful that this year’s cancellation doesn’t mark the end of the event.
“I’m optimistic that we’re going to come back next year with a great show,” he said. “So between now and then, we’re going to get all the details figured out with the village and put on a great show for the people like we have in the past.”
Contact reporter Chad Arnold at: [email protected] or by calling 518-395-3120.
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