Grand Island Fireworks Committee Announces Addition

[GRAND ISLAND, NE June 17, 2024]  Grand Island’s Community Fireworks Celebration is back for a second year. With the return of this 4th of July event, comes an addition to spectator parking. Listen to an interview with Dana Jelinek and Celine Swan.

Parking will once again be available in the north lot of Fonner Park, with overflow parking in the grass lot south of the water park and Fire Station 1. Additional parking will be in the field, known as the “Luebbe Lot”, on the east side of Stuhr Road. This area is familiar to Nebraska State Fair goers who enter the fair on Fonner Park’s east side.

“We saw the need for more parking, because in 2023 spectators were lining the sides of Stuhr Road,” said Greg Geis, chair of the fireworks committee, “We needed a safer option for people.”

The Luebbe lot will open at 8:30 p.m. on July 4 and all spectators are asked to park back from the fencing to avoid mishaps. Spectators are also asked not to park along Stuhr Road due to heavy truck traffic.

Geis said, “Roger Luebbe has been a great help to us by opening his field. We want everyone to be able to watch from a safe area.”

Spectators are instructed that no outside fireworks will be allowed in the Luebbe lot or at Fonner Park.

The Grand Island Community Fireworks Celebration committee is made up of volunteers from non-profit, local government and small businesses. Funding for this year’s event comes from community donations of $10 to $5000, with accumulated totals from Go Big Give bringing in over $19,000. Lead donor this year is the Grand Island Casino Resort. Broadcast sponsor is KRGI, with Fonner Park serving as the host site.  

With the final payment to the fireworks contractor due, committee member Abbie Gdowski reminds community members that donations are still being accepted through the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation website at https://www.gicf.org/. Grand Island Community Fireworks Display may be found under the Donate tab.

Gdowski said, "Thank you to all who have already donated to the Grand Island Fireworks Celebration, because of donations we are able to continue this tradition for our community."

Stuhr Museum’s Executive Director Chris Hochstetler said, “The event not only marks our country’s independence, it is significant in the establishment of Grand Island. July 4, 1857 marks the time when the first German settlers arrived here on La Grand Isle to establish Grand Island as a community.”

For information on how to donate, you may contact the foundation at 308-381-7767. For information about the event, call Dana Jelinek at Grand Island Tourism, 308-382-4400.