Jasmine Hernandez, 9, decorates the sidewalk in front of City Hall with a detailed pastel flower that won the prize for Most Colorful during Creswell’s Awesome Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest.
Though all Fourth of July celebrations in South Lane County are canceled due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, city leaders are encouraging residents to celebrate — just keep it local, and keep it safe.
Due to Gov. Kate Brown’s orders regarding safety and crowds, the traditional events in Creswell and Springfield have been canceled. Neighboring cities like Cottage Grove generally take a backseat to celebrating on the Fourth in their own towns and instead participate in the Creswell celebration, said city manager Richard Meyers.
In what would have been its 29th year, Creswell’s Fourth of July Celebration has drawn thousands of visitors and includes a pancake breakfast, parade, live music, Young Eagle Flights and a fireworks display. The event is managed and paid for by the Creswell Chamber of Commerce, and was canceled on May 14, Chamber president Raina Napper announced.
Likewise, Springfield Utility Board (SUB) May 13 announced its cancellation of what would have been this year’s 18th year of Light of Liberty Celebration.
The Springfield celebration packed a crowd of more than 6,000 people in Island Park for a day of music and kids’ activities, topped off with fireworks set by music and reflected over the Willamette River, said Meredith Clark, community relations manager for the utility. The celebration boasts live music from local and national name bands, like the Beach Boys, who were set to play at this year’s Fourth, and Starship featuring Mickey Thomas in 2019, Clark said, noting that it’s a fundraising event for Project Share, a charity that helps low-income Springfielders with wintertime heating bills.
But with no way to safely congregate a crowd of that size, Clark said they had to pull the plug on this year’s event, and are looking into alternate live July festivities that will celebrate the summer in a way that works with state and local health and safety guidelines. The details are still being worked out, Clark said, and SUB plans to release those plans in the upcoming weeks.
“It’s a bummer,” said Meredith Clark, community relations manager for the utility. “We love planning the event for our community and look forward to its return next year.”
Creswell City manager Michelle Amberg is also hearing expressions of surprise and disappointment from the Creswell community.
“Many people don’t realize that the City does not host the event, though we do provide extensive support,” Amberg said. “The City provides transient occupancy tax from hotel stays to the Chamber to help offset the costs,” Amberg said. This money can only be used for tourism and cannot be used this year because large gatherings of tourists are not allowed by Gov. Brown’s guidance documents, she said.
Shortly after news of the cancellation, the City of Creswell took ownership of a celebration that can operate within the Phase 2 guidelines around health, safety and crowds. The City is operating a social distance-supported celebration that encourages residents to stay home and partake in community contests, community scavenger hunts and light displays. The jet flyover is still slated, and Kona Ice is giving out up to four free shaved ices per household. Community contests include Most Patriotic House, Best Light Display, Best Sidewalk Chalk Art, Most Patriotic Pet, Best Decorated Business, a grand prize for Most Patriotic Household, and perhaps with some tongue-and-cheek and a nod to Creswell’s past parade behavior, the Best Lawn Chair Display.
The City’s involvement in this year’s planning “shows great spirit for our town,” Napper said. “The Chamber looks forward to next year’s celebration with the usual activities.”
The City did not budget for July Fourth activities, and has opened up a donation link through Creswell First!
Amberg said costs include $15,000 for shaved ices, $1,000 for contest prizes, and an as-of-yet unknown cost for the light display in the park, Amberg said, in addition to costs of decorations for City Hall and downtown lights.
Amberg said that with a unique alternative event, comes unique concerns, including a concern that “people will not follow the Governor’s guidelines and City responsibilities and will try to plan events that are not allowed,” she said.
Lane County Creswell Sheriff Scott Denham said he expects activity to pick up around noon on the Fourth, and is monitoring rumors of “protest” conversations in order to have a makeshift parade.
“We will deal with that as things develop,” Denham said.
Police will not be controlling activity on private property unless they catch wind of any ordinance and law violations, Denham said, and advised that “For those that choose to have friends and family over, we ask that they respect their neighbors and parking laws, as well as noise.”
With people celebrating at home this year, police are keeping an eye out for illegal firework activity, especially with predicted dry-weather fire conditions. “Only safe and sane fireworks will be allowed,” Amberg said.
In past years, LCSO generally received 10-12 calls for fireworks through the night, “which is not really indicative of the true number of illegal fireworks being used,” he said. Depending on the availability of illegal fireworks through tribal sales in Washington and Idaho this year, Denham said he would expect some may attempt to display larger shows than in the past.
“We will be watching and dealing with them accordingly, especially what we believe the fire danger at the time will be,” Denham said. “We ask that those using legal fireworks do so safely with water and extinguishers available. Illegal fireworks can expect to be cited and their fireworks seized. Any city planned or approved events and activities we will support to assure the safety of citizens and the enjoyment of the community.”
Along with safety, Amberg is asking for patience.
“The festivities are being postponed and will be great next year,” Amberg said. “By ignoring guidance and taking things into your own hands, you put people who want to serve you in an uncomfortable situation. Trespassing, violations of the Creswell Municipal Code, illegal fireworks and large crowds will make a miserable July Fourth for us all.”
Police staffing for the Fourth this year is no different than in previous years, except for the City now having an additional deputy, Denham said. LCSO will have our two deputies working, one daytime, one night. Denham will be in for several hours into the evening and has offered overtime to those deputies who are off that day. LCSO will also have some reserve deputies available in the evening, Denham said.
CRESWELL JULY 4TH ACTIVITIES
What to do in Creswell for the Fourth of July
Patriotic Rock Art Hide and Seek on July 3
Look to the skies: Jet flyover: Appx. 11-11:30 a.m. Local aviators will be flying over town all morning.
Kona Shaved Ice will distribute four free shaved households in neighborhoods from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Holt Park Light Display: Evenings on July 3 and 4
Community contests:
Most Patriotic House
1st Place – $100 Cascade Home Center gift certificate
2nd Place – $75 Farmlands gift certificate
3rd Place – $50 Creswell Bakery gift certificate
Best Light Display
1st Place – $100 Cascade Home Center gift certificate
2nd Place – $75 Tractor Supply gift certificate
3rd Place – $50 Blue Valley Bistro gift certificate
Best Lawn Chair Display – $100 BiMart gift certificate
Sidewalk Chalk Art
Most Red White & Blue – $50 Dairy Queen gift certificate
Best Hometown July 4th – $50 Dairy Queen gift certificate
Best Summer Fun – $50 Dairy Queen gift certificate
Most Patriotic Pet – $50 Tractor Supply gift certificate
Most Photogenic Pet – 1-year subscription to The Chronicle
Best Pet Haircut – $50 Blue Ribbon Pet Grooming gift certificate
Best decorated business – $100 gas card
Grand Prize for Most Patriotic Household – 1-year free subscription to Sanipac for residential pick up (1 medium cart – sponsored by Sanipac)
Sponsored by the City of Creswell.
