Ault Park Independence Day Fireworks Marks 60 years

This year is the 60^th year of Independence Day fireworks in Ault Park. The display is a tremendously popular event drawing people from all over the Greater Cincinnati area. Yet, only a couple of years ago, it was uncertain if the event would even take place. 

In 2024, the all -volunteer Ault Park Advisory Council (APAC), which had taken over responsibility for the event about 10 years ago, put out a call for help. The event had grown in both size and scope, drawing larger and larger crowds each year. Depending on the weather, some 5,000 to 7,000 people now come out to the park each year to celebrate. 

Putting on such a large and complex event was becoming a challenge for a group of dedicated, but busy, volunteers. A large event such as the fireworks involves raising funds, of course, but it also requires recruiting an army of people to plan logistics, get permits, line up safety and security, organize volunteers, work with vendors and entertainment, ensure there is electricity and sound where needed. It’s a huge job, even down to ordering portable potties and managing a clean up crew.  

Fortunately, others across the city heard the call, including city leadership itself.

Heeding the call

“At the point where I got involved was when it was reported in the news that the fireworks would be canceled because there was not a group of volunteers able to pull it off,” said volunteer Anne Sesler, who now partners with APAC’s Brittany Speed and others to put on the event.

“Council member Seth Walsh was very concerned about it. He asked the city manager for a report on whether there was a way to still have the fireworks. The city manager’s office reported back that the city parks staff could manage the event if the funds were raised to pay for their time,” she said.

“Brittany and I and a few other folks were very excited to try and raise the funds for professional management. City parks manage events all over the city and in the parks, and they know what they are doing, which means they hire the police, they make sure there’s electricity there for the food trucks, they make sure the fireworks space is secured and safe.”

This help freed up Sesler, Speed and other volunteers to devote their time to raising the funds necessary to cover the fireworks, the police, city parks staff, the live music, sound system and other expenses involved in putting on the event. They’ve reached out to area businesses, individuals, local foundations, community councils and others interested in the Ault Park fireworks. In fact, fundraising for the event is ongoing.

“I think the new setup, as far as having more buy-in from the city, the city parks and the police, has definitely helped. It’s still volunteers. It’s still an amazing effort. It’s all volunteer fundraising and volunteer-lead for such a big event,” Speed said.

“Having that professional management in production of the event has just made a big difference,” agreed Sesler. “They know things like get the police request in early, get the event permitting done. They just know all the processes, and they can do things a lot better than we can as volunteers. It’s a lot to ask volunteers to do.”

Fireworks and more

The Fourth of July celebration involves a full day of activities. The day starts with a kids’ parade. Kids sign up at 10:30 a.m., and the parade starts at 11. They are invited to decorate bikes, scooters, wagons and themselves with their best red, white and blue. At the end, children share a treat and awards are given for categories such as “most patriotic” and “best costume.”

Families and friends come out to picnic for the day and enjoy the park’s trails and amenities. In the evening revelers can dance to live music and sample food from vendors before the main event — fireworks by Rozzi,  the area’s premier purveyors of pyrotechnic wonder.

This year, beer sales will return. Local charities help staff the beer trucks and keep the tips as donations. Food trucks are plentiful and include Graeter’s ice cream. There are sparklers, balloons and glow-in-the-dark items from the Cincinnati-based company Let’s Glo Crazy.

The live band starts playing at 7 p.m. This year, it’s the Cassette Junkies cover and show band featuring “cassette era” arena classic rock. 

Celebration continues until nightfall, around 10 p.m. when Rozzi treats the crowd to a 20-minute fireworks show.