Mary Kuntz loves the 4th of July and all the fun that comes with Independence Day.
However, one of these activities is in jeopardy.
The Leland Chamber of Commerce doesn’t have any money to pay for the annual July 3 fireworks over Hancock Field this year.
“I know how much joy the fireworks brings to families,” she said. “It would be so sad if there was no awareness and no effort to save it.”
In February, Leland Chamber president Mark Morton announced cancellation of his organization’s biggest fundraiser, the Leland Food and Wine Festival.
Historically, the event has been hosted in the parking lot of the Leland Harbor. However, the venue was changed in 2022 and 2023 to the Leland Lodge due to construction in Fishtown.
Morton explained that the Lodge was no longer an option and the chamber looked for an alternate site.
“The Leland Harbor Commission turned down the chamber’s request to return to the Harbor citing restrictions in place by the Department of Environmental Quality and Waterways Commission for use,” Morton said.
Waterways won’t allow the ramp or parking lot to be impeded access to the lake. This, on top of the general congestion at the harbor and loss of revenue, the Harbor Commission rejected the proposal as the site is “no longer a suitable site for the wine festival.”
Another suggestion was to close Lake Street between River and Pearl streets. This would have required the township endorse the plan which then would need approval from the County Road Commission. This never came to frui- tion, due to time constraints.
The festival is a huge fundraiser for the chamber which contributes to the annual July fireworks, Christmas light, trash receptacles with trash pickup and flowers on the bridge in Leland.
No money means no fireworks.
“Without our major fundraiser, the Leland Wine and Food Festival happening this year, the Chamber is concentrating on the services we provide to the businesses that are funded through their membership dues, such as maintaining a website and social media that promote Leland, along with the printing and distribution of over 30,000 brochures,” Morton said.
Kuntz, who said her father’s favorite July 4th activity was the Leland parade, viewed the fireworks each year as a child. Upon hearing about the development she was driven to act.
“I’ve written to everyone I know, asking for donations,” she said.
A typical show costs $12,000 to $15,000, however, the chamber can’t swing it.
“We have received a few donations over the last few weeks that were earmarked for several different things that the Chamber does in a normal year including fireworks, but it has not been near enough,” Morton said.
Contributions can be made at https://www.lelandmi.org. Donations or checks can be made out to Leland Chamber of Commerce and sent to P.O. Box 741, Leland, MI 49654. The organization is also seeking donations through gofundme. com.
“Everything we receive going forward will be put towards fireworks until we reach a minimum goal of $12,000,” Morton said. “We will have to commit to the fireworks company by mid-April with a 50% deposit, but if we don’t have near full amount in hand by that time we won’t be able to commit because without the Wine Fest the Chamber doesn’t have the resources to make up the difference if we don’t receive enough donations.”
