As local communities canceled firework shows, a few pyrotechnicians in Richmond hatched their own plan.

The small community just south of Kalona was once home to the Richmond Shooters, a group of 30 or so that ran Shiloh’s Fourth of July firework displays in years past. With local shows canceling this year due to COVID-19, four remaining members of the Richmond Shooters, Reno Johnson, John Cabral, Rob Haight, and event coordinator Dennis Murray, came up with a community-based alternative.

“We had some leftover stuff that we were going to shoot off in our backyard just to get rid of it during the legal time of doing it,” Murray said. “I talked to a few people… and somebody on Facebook said, ‘Wellman canceled, so can we do something in Richmond,’ and I said, ‘I’m working on it,’ and now it turned into this big deal.”

Murray said the team was taking every precaution with the display.

“We’re actually going to do a full-on permit and work with the county and the fire department and all that stuff just to make sure everybody is safe,” he said.

The group has set up a GoFundMe page for donations and has thus far accepted around $2,500 according to Erin Marsh, another event coordinator.

“We’re not associated with any sort of company, we’re just friends getting together and doing this,” Marsh said. “There’s no financial backer other than us and those willing to donate.”

Although the project is entirely crowd funded, Murray noted that J&M Displays had been essential in supplying the firework shells.

“We’re working with J&M Displays… they’re a huge help for us, they’re giving us a huge discount because we’ve worked with them so long,” Murray said. “We’re going to put on a $5,000 show for three grand.”

Marsh said they had set up for parking arrangements at the Holy Trinity Catholic church in town and on the grass area north of the road. Viewers are advised to watch from the Richmond Park.

Murray emphasized that the firework display was a way to give back to the community. While he was excited by the abundance of widespread support, he hoped the display remained a community-level event, rather than draw potentially hazardous large crowds.

“Richmond doesn’t have the capacity… as far as visitors, that’s what scares me,” Murray said.

The show will be entirely community funded, a fact that organizers are proud of.

“Every dollar that was donated is going to the show, nobody makes any money off of this,” Murray said.