'There's no holiday here': Would-be celebrants lament end of Milwaukee's annual fireworks tradition

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Tens of thousands of visitors are not in Milwaukee to watch the traditional Independence Day fireworks after this year’s edition was canceled due to a lack of financial support.

That means there are no crowds along the lakefront, few boats, and little excitement Wednesday night.

But there is a lot of disappointment and an empty feeling after the parks department canceled the annual celebration, citing a cost that was too steep.

Trevionn Chancellor was part of a large group that still went to War Memorial Park. He said it's an annual tradition for dozens of friends to gather along the waterfront. "For the 3rd, everybody literally comes back down here to celebrate."

But this year's party looks a lot different for Chancellor and his friends, some of whom travel home from across the country for Milwaukee's fireworks celebration.

This year, he told us, "It's not the same. We do this all day in anticipation of the fireworks at the end, but now it's not the same."

A lot of people shared in Chancellor's disappointment, like Sharon Johnson of Milwaukee, who said, "I'm very upset about this. Because I have grandkids that would love to see the fireworks."

Edward Hale moved away for 12 years but recently moved back, looking forward to reconnecting with Milwaukee's traditions.

Hale said, "I came back to a lot of changes, some good, some bad. But this one is one of the bad ones. I love the fireworks."

People told us it not only feels different this year, but it also looks very different: there are no crowds in the prime viewing locations.

Some said that in years past, they’ve had to camp out starting at midnight the day before just to get a spot in the best locations.

But the lakefront wasn't completely empty. People still walked along the water, flew kites, and went to the beer garden.

And not everyone is bothered by the cancellation.

Self-described introvert Fatima Gomez told us, "It's kind of nice to have a nice summer day in the park where there's a place to be where there's not a ton of people."

Still, most people wished someone had stepped up to foot the bill to ensure a decades-long tradition could continue.

Charles Lawler of Shorewood was at the beer garden at War Memorial Park. He'd gone to the fireworks for years since childhood.

But Wednesday he lamented, "What's the holiday? There's no holiday here. There's nothing special about it. It's just lifeless."

A few weeks ago, the parks department estimated the cost of the fireworks celebration topped $370,000. They also said there's a good chance the fireworks will not return at all in the future.