13-06-2025
Southwick Civic Fund asks for help from community to pay for this summer's fireworks show
SOUTHWICK — The Southwick Civic Fund is taking the first step in its attempt to bring back that annual carnival to town and have a fireworks show on Saturday, Aug. 9, but it will need the financial support of the community.
'We are shooting for raising $20,000,' said Joseph Deedy, the president of the nonprofit.
He said the plan is to use $14,000 for the fireworks and the extra $6,000 to have two carnival rides for children, which would be provided by Comerford & Sons, and cover any other expenses.
'Of course, the rides would be free for the kids,' Deedy said.
He stressed the importance of having the community help fund the show and how it could be considered easy.
There are roughly10,000 people who live in town, Granville and Tolland and if 'we could get $1.50 from each person, we'd be there.'
He also extended an invitation to businesses in the area that would want to help but acknowledged it could be tough ask given the economy.
'Because the last few years local businesses have been getting hit pretty hard, we decided to turn the requests to the citizens of Southwick,' he said.
Deedy said the decision to bring in the carnival rides was to start preparations for a carnival next summer to coincide the United States celebrating its 250th anniversary.
'We want to do something special next year to celebrate our country's founding,' he said.
As for the fireworks, they will be provided by Atlas Fireworks, which has run the shows for the town in the past, Deedy said.
The fireworks are launched from The Wick 338 motocross track with the blessing of its general manager Rick Johnson.
'We have a great partnership with the Wick,' he said, adding that American Legion Post 338 is a key part of making the show a success.
There wasn't a fireworks show in town last year, which Deedy said made more than a few folks upset.
He explained that a large portion of his time away from running his ice cream shop Moolicious Farm was spent working on getting the new facility for the Our Community Food Pantry completed.
'Last year with the food pantry, there was just too much to do,' he said.
The annual tradition of a fireworks shows in Southwick began in 1948, and was part of the annual Fireman's Carnival and Parade.
Run by the Southwick Fireman's Association as a fundraiser for the town's Fire Department, it was a four-day event that featured carnival rides, helicopter rides, a car show, and fireworks.
In 2015, the Fireman's Association decided to end organizing the carnival, and for a couple of years, it was put on by the Southwick Rotary Club.
The Southwick Rotary Club ran the fireworks show until 2017, which was when the Southwick Civic Fund took over coordinating the event and raising the money needed to pull it off.
By then, the carnival hadn't been run in a few years.
The show on Aug. 9 will feature fireworks at dusk, local concessions including Deedy's Moolicious ice cream truck, and a DJ playing music.
Deedy expects several food trucks to be there but couldn't confirm which ones yet.
'Sometimes they can be last-minute,' he said.
The show will be held rain or shine.
There are several ways to give, including at — navigate to the bottom of the page and click on the 'donate' button. All online donations are processed through Paypal.
Donations by personal check can be sent to 258 Feeding Hills Road, Southwick, MA 01077. The Southwick Civic Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Read the original article on MassLive.
