Despite the stormy weather which cloaked the city's skyline Friday night, the City of Pottsville and Pottsville Pride celebrated the nation's independence with fireworks.
"We deal with rain all the time. Fireworks have come a long way. The shells are in plastic bags tied at the top. The fuses that come out of the mortars are waterproof, so they can take a little bit of water. So if there was a light drizzle of rain, we'd be OK. But you can't leave it out in rain for 15 or 20 minutes," said Zach Yeager, owner of Skyshooter Displays by ZY Pyrotechnics LLC, Wapwallopen, Luzerne County.
The rain forced the organizers to cancel the city's traditional Independence Day Celebration festivities at Pottsville Area's Veterans Stadium, including a show featuring skydivers and music by Pottsville's Third Brigade Band. But people all over the city still held porch parties and gathered in parking lots to watch pyrotechnics light up the sky.
Pottsville Pride and the City of Pottsville annually host the Independence Day Celebration at Veterans Stadium. The program, including the fireworks, is financed by Pottsville Pride, a volunteer group assembled with help from the office of Mayor John D.W. Reiley.
Earlier this week, Thomas A. Palamar, city administrator, anticipated this year's program would cost $11,662. Expenses included: $9,762, Skyshooter Displays by ZY Pyrotechnics; two skydivers from Maytown Sport Parachute Club, Maytown, Lancaster County, $600; a performance by the Pottsville Third Brigade Band, $750; a donation to local fire police, $500; and lights at Veterans Stadium, $50.
Palamar said those figures will change because of the cancellations but he didn't have exact totals Friday night.
At 1 p.m. Friday, city officials had to decide whether to proceed with the Independence Day Celebration, and Palamar confirmed the show would go on.
"Once you start setting up the fireworks, the show must go on," Palamar said.
At 1:30 p.m., the crew from Skyshooter Displays rolled to the site which has been the traditional launch pad, the 16th Street Field across from John S. Clarke Elementary Center.
The crew set up 1,000 aerial shells, enough to put on a 25-minute show, Yeager said.
"We were set up by 5 o'clock, then it started to rain and we had to put plastic over the shells," Yeager said.
At 5 p.m., the website for the National Weather Service, State College, reported there would be an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Around that time, Leslie Kraft, Pottsville, the band's president, arrived at Veterans Stadium and started to set up 45 folding chairs the school district provided for the band's performance.
At 6 p.m., gray clouds swept over the city and sheets of rain followed.
Shortly thereafter, the skydivers from Maytown Sport Parachute Club canceled their annual jump into the stadium from 5,000 feet.
"It's not as much the jump as it is getting the plane off the ground," Master of Ceremonies Leo F. Haley said.
"In the 12 years I've been city administrator, I don't recall that happening," Palamar said.
"We've had the skydivers 25 years at least. I remember them cancelling before," Haley said, but he couldn't remember when.
At 7 p.m., representatives of the city and Pottsville Pride opened the gates at Veterans Stadium.
City police Capt. Steve Durkin was walking around in a black police issue slicker. The brim of his cap was beaded with raindrops when, at 7:30 p.m., the clouds parted and the sun burst forth.
"There's hope," Palamar said.
While more than 150 people traditionally show up to watch the ceremonies, the rain kept the crowds away. Aside from the organizers and the Third Brigade Band, no more than 15 others were there. The bleachers were empty.
At 7:40 p.m., with the threat of rain still hanging over the field, the Third Brigade Band decided to cancel its performance.
"It's too wet. We need to keep the woodwind instruments and the music dry and that's something that would be thousands of dollars in damage if that stuff got a good soaking," Kraft said. She said she would return to the field this morning to help put away the folding chairs.
At 7:45 p.m., when the opening ceremonies were scheduled to begin, Emily Fanelli, 16, of Pottsville, was sitting in the press box at Pottsville Area's Veterans Stadium, waiting for her cue to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Then she was informed the program was off.
"I'm bummed," said one of Fanelli's friends who was there, Maria Grosser, 16, of Pottsville.
But there was music in the air.
Two blocks away, the owners of the Studio 16 Salon at 1612 Mount Hope Ave. were having a porch party with more than 50 people and a live band, Hooligan.
"We do this every year. Typically there would be a lot more people here," said Debbie Cody, the salon's owner. Her husband, George, is a bass player with the band.
"Under normal circumstances, that whole hill over there would be packed," said their daughter, Samantha Cody.
"But we're having fun. And since it's raining, I'm glad there's some local entertainment," Samantha said.