As the sun dipped below the horizon on Saturday of Columbus Day weekend, Pine Plains was still buzzing from the Future Farmers of America Ag Fair, but the real attraction was yet to begin. By 6 p.m., cars and pickups lined Jackson Road, tailgates down and camp chairs unfolded, as families and neighbors staked out their spots for the evening’s fireworks display. One child perched atop a pickup cab for a prime view, while young people straddled their bicycles on the road behind him. Above the high school’s football field, the sky was calm, and all eyes were fixed upward, waiting for the first burst of color to light up the night.
“It’s taking a really long time,” lamented one boy to his dad. Informed that they had to wait until it was dark, he quickly countered, “But it is dark!” By 7:15 p.m. a dazzling display briefly united the town in awe but left a lingering question in its wake: Was the show worth its $20,000 price tag?
The town’s decision to fund this year’s event — for $5,000 more than last year — has sparked debate among residents and officials alike, raising concerns about the financial strain on a town determined to hold the line on taxes. The debate over funding has ensured that this year’s fireworks may be the last town-sponsored display for the foreseeable future.
Earlier that afternoon, a crew from Forever July, a Walden, N.Y. based fireworks company hired by the town, set up rows of fireworks in the middle of the school’s football field. While the display was controlled by a computer program, the fireworks were launched manually to adjust for wind and weather conditions. If it’s windy, for example, the fireworks are spaced out over time. Four state-licensed fireworks “shooters” managed the show — three were paid and one, Richard Prentice Jr., the town’s dog control officer, volunteered his time.
A big town firetruck, along with a few other cars with fire department employees, was patiently parked on the lane by the field. One of the kids at Jackson Road had expressed concern — “I hope it doesn’t catch fire on the grass” — but the conditions were safe and safeguarded. “We work with the fire department,” said Town Supervisor Brian Walsh, “just in case anything happens. But it never has.”
The Ag Fair fireworks, which lasted over 30 minutes, were even bigger than the display last year during the same weekend, said Walsh. “We had a nice display last year — I got nothing but great feedback — but this year we don’t have the Bicentennial banner, which cost something last year. So this year we got a couple of extra shells for the fireworks.”
In 2023, as part of the town’s Bicentennial celebration, the fireworks cost $15,000. The higher cost this year was due to inflation, said Walsh. “Costs go up on everything, right?”
To fund the $20,000 display, the town board allocated $6,000 from the celebrations budget, $5,000 from the recreation department’s budget and an additional $9,000 from the general fund.
One board member, Jeanine Sisco, abstained from the vote, arguing for more transparency, while board member Kevin Walsh voted against it. “My basic feelings are that $20,000 is a lot of money considering that Brian Walsh wants to keep the same tax rate, yet town expenses have gone up,” he said. “From feedback I’ve received, most people think that that expense was too high.” He also stated that he thought it was inappropriate for the town to pay for part of the Ag Fair, which is a school event.
In past years, when the fireworks took place on the ballfields, the cost was much less, and for many years, the town didn’t sponsor any fireworks at all. Looking ahead to 2025, town sponsorship of fireworks is off the table. At the public Town Board budget workshop meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, the total celebrations budget was set at $5,000 — and it was agreed that there will be no town-sponsored fireworks.
As for this year’s fireworks, Brian Walsh said, planning it around the Ag Fair was the logical thing to do: “It’s Columbus Day weekend and everyone is here for the Ag Fair. They’re spending the day here. So it seems like a perfect time to do it. I hope everybody enjoys it.”
Back on Jackson Road, one boy, here on a visit from his home in Phoenix to see his grandparents in Pulvers Corners, explained what he liked about fireworks: “They’re cool and they explode in the sky!” Added his grandfather, “I couldn’t have said it better than that.”
It is important to note that the money raised in 2023 for fireworks was raised not by the town taxpayers via Town Board, but by The Stissing Center as part of the Bicentennial celebration. The Town of Pine Plains budget contributed $5,000, from the Celebrations line, the Stissing Center fundraising exceeded $10,000 for a total of $15,000+ for fireworks.