Chamber pushes to preserve Siesta fireworks

Wendall Jacobsen has worked on Siesta Key for 25 years, just about as long as the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce has held a Fourth of July fireworks display.

As general manager of Beach Bazaar, Jacobsen has had ample opportunity to witness the impacts of the holiday celebration — something he believes is broadly felt throughout Siesta Key Village.

“It brings a lot of business to the village all day long, or if it falls on a weekend, all weekend long,” said Jacobsen, president of the Siesta Key Village Association. “People come first thing in the morning and are on the island most of the day, which brings them into the village — eating, shopping, getting supplies for the beach.”

That’s why Jacobsen was concerned to hear that the 2016 fireworks display was in jeopardy. The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce has reached out to several local organizations — including SKVA, the Siesta Key Association and Visit Sarasota County — in an attempt to secure funding so the event can continue.

“It’s a very competitive time. There’s a lot of people trying to convince people to go to their particular beach for the holiday.” — Virginia Haley 

At the April 7 Siesta Key Association meeting, chamber chairman Mark Smith explained the challenges his organization is facing. Following renovations to Siesta Key Beach last year, the chamber had to make changes to its plans for the VIP party it held during the fireworks display. Starting at $75 per person, the party has been the chamber’s core funding for the event.

Because of the renovations, the chamber lost access to picnic tables and parking spots for the VIP party. It also would have had to take precautions to protect the improvements. Those factors increased the cost of hosting the party by $17,000 — too much,  Smith said.

The fireworks display costs approximately $45,000 to put on, Smith said. Without the VIP party, the group doesn’t have the money to pay for the event. That’s why the chamber is pivoting, asking donors to chip in for the event.

Already, SKVA and Visit Sarasota County have committed $5,000 each. Alana Tomasso, the head of the chamber’s fireworks committee, is optimistic this year’s event is secure, at least.

“We’re confident our community will pull through for us, because it’s an event that’s beneficial to our whole community,” Tomasso said. “It brings people here, gets them in the hotels — then the restaurants and recreation places make money, too.”

Visit Sarasota County President Virginia Haley said July remains a big month for tourism in the area. On all of Sarasota’s beaches, rental units are typically sold out during long weekends — and events such as a fireworks show serve as important attractions for tourists deciding where to spend their Independence Day.

“It’s a very competitive time,” Haley said. “There’s a lot of people trying to convince people to go to their particular beach for the holiday. With everything happening in the area, we can give them the whole package.”

Jacobsen agreed, saying that businesses in the Village see a second peak in activity during the summer months. Beach Bazaar is making its own contribution toward the firework display, which underscores how important the event is to the shop.

As this year’s event draws nearer, the chamber continues to make its fundraising push. Although the organization is confident the community will rally around the fireworks, there’s less certainty toward the long-term viability of the fireworks display.

For now, the chamber has no other options than to rely on the support of the rest of Siesta Key.

“We’re going to have to continue with this model down the road,” Tomasso said. “We don’t get any funding for our fireworks, so that’s what we’re counting on.”