Oregon Public Broadcasting

The event billed as the "biggest fireworks show west of the Mississippi" won’t be happening next year. As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, the trust that puts on the 4th of July show in Vancouver is calling it quits.

Thousands of people have made the Vancouver fireworks an Independence Day tradition.

Now Elson Strahan of the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust says several problems have conspired to end the show.

A long-term donor pulled out. People aren’t willing to pay for an event that’s always been free. Local restaurants and yacht clubs aren’t supporting the show. And finally there was a lawsuit that said local fireworks stands can’t be forced to support the event.

Strahan wrote the official notification letter to the Mayor of Vancouver.

Elson Strahan: “It was an extremely difficult letter to write. It was an extremely difficult decision to come to…but it was an inevitable decision.” Stahan says the reserve won’t host any kind Independence Day celebration next year, because people would be expecting fireworks. But, he says, maybe another kind of gathering will take its place in the future.