Bloglander

Since 1978, people in Spokane have gathered in Riverfront Park at the end of July for the annual Royal Fireworks Concert. A 60-piece orchestra plays George Frederick Handel’s Musick for the Royal Fireworks with a fireworks show incorporated into the finale. Musicians come from all over the country to participate, and some have come from out of town each summer for over two decades. It has become a tradition in the music community.

Just two weeks ago, the official announcement came out from nonprofit arts group Allegro Baroque & Beyond, which had produced the concert since its birth: They would no longer continue funding the community event, and this year’s 35th annual Royal Fireworks Concert would be their last.

In an effort to continue the concert, founder David Dutton will lead a town hall meeting Monday, Aug. 12, at 7 pm. Dutton will discuss the Royal Fireworks Endowment and what needs to be done to continue the community event in the future.

Dutton says there was a large response from the community through Facebook expressing the desire to continue the annual concert. The town hall meeting came about in response to the amount of feedback, Dutton says.

The hope is that 50 or 60 people show up to the meeting on Monday, Dutton says, to show that there is community support for the continuation of the concert. From the supporters, Dutton is looking for people to volunteer for positions in a new organizational structure that has been created as well as pledges or donations to go towards the endowment fund.

Dutton will still need to find an organization willing to be the fiscal head of the Royal Fireworks Concert. However, the town meeting is the first step in keeping this community event alive.

The town hall meeting is Monday, Aug. 12 at 7 pm in the Great Hall of St. John’s Cathedral located at 127 E. 12th Ave.