County, city officials scratch Labor Day fireworks
MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Aug. 13, 2020) – The annual fireworks show over the Manatee River originally scheduled for the Fourth of July and delayed until Labor Day has been postponed again to avoid large gatherings next month.
Local COVID-19 numbers led Manatee County Administrator Cheri Coryea, Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston and Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant to cancel the Labor Day fireworks.
Spectators at this event typically gather on the Green Bridge over the Manatee River and along the river on both sides. The size of the expected crowd would have posed a serious public-health concern. No new date has been set.
“Once again we find ourselves needing to postpone the ‘July 4th Fireworks’ due to COVID-19,” Bryant said. “We ask everyone to follow all the safety guidelines for this awful virus so we might return to normal soon and reschedule, as we do have much to celebrate and be thankful for.”
Poston added that the original intent of the Labor Day event will hopefully be preserved. “Moving the event to Labor Day was meant to celebrate our workers most impacted by the pandemic … health-care workers, first responders, law enforcement and those in essential services,” he said. “But fears of harming our residents, including those we intended to celebrate, have caused us to postpone again.”
County Administrator Cheri Coryea thanked the public for understanding the need to delay. She also thanked those who regularly observe CDC guidelines for social distancing and the local indoor face covering resolution set by County Commissioners in July.