Inflation threatens area fireworks, community sponsors step up to help

BROWN DEER, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Fourth of July fireworks are taking place across Milwaukee County, and while the light show brings big entertainment, it also comes with an explosive price tag. 

Event organizers say before community sponsors joined, the holiday was looking bleak.

Putting on a fireworks show for any city throughout Milwaukee County may seem like an easy undertaking, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to the dollars and cents -- something event planners say is not a part of the county's budget.

Fireworks fans brought their lawn chairs, grills and coolers to set up shop in communities across Milwaukee County, looking to score the best spot to see the night sky light up. 

"It's a trademark of summer," said Katie Mareno of New Berlin. "Like it doesn't feel like summer unless you do fireworks."

But long before families had their eyes on the sky, city planners had their hands on financial spreadsheets. 

Event organizers in West Allis were looking to area sponsors to help ignite an American tradition.

"I don't know if it would be to this scale, it would be tough," said Chelsea Famularo, tourism and events coordinator for West Allis. "You kind of are able to do more when you have sponsors that step in and help with something like that. Costs are going up on everything."

Fireworks are the latest commodity caught up in high inflation, facing a nearly 40% price increase and threatening celebrations in Brown Deer, as well.

"Without our sponsors, this will be probably this beer tent and that would be it," said Danielle Gross, park and recreation director for Brown Deer. 

And while the financial cost of putting on the light show continues to grow, organizers say it's the family tradition that will remain the same. 

"It's the 4th of July fireworks, how do you not have the 4th of July fireworks in your community? You see the smiles of faces and everybody coming together, it's always worth it."

To put on the fireworks show in West Allis, it cost nearly $17,000.