Donors, sponsors step up to make Carson City's July 4 carnival and fireworks show possible
Submitted by Arianna Schmidt on Tue, 06/29/2021 - 9:42am
The COVID-19 pandemic put the brakes on a lot of Carson City annuals in 2020, including the crowd-favorite Fourth of July celebration and fireworks show in Mills Park, organized by the Nevada Rural Counties Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.
Since the nod from Gov. Steve Sisolak earlier this month allowing 100 percent capacity in public spaces, CEO of RSVP Molly Walt began carnival planning speedily as the event could now operate at full capacity exactly one month out from opening day.
“(We’re) trying to get all of this organized: the carnival, the dinner, the fireworks, in a month, literally,” Walt said. “Not being able to operate at 100 percent in the carnival, it would be undoable.”
The carnival events and fireworks show, however, is strictly fundraising-based. As planning comes down to the wire before events start on Thursday, community donations and sponsorships have made all the difference, Walt said.
“The fundraising is going very well," Walt said. “I’m very excited and extremely humbled with the (firework) show support we’ve gotten from the community.”
Walt said past carnivals during the Independence Day holiday haven’t been much of a fundraiser for RSVP, meaning once the cost of fireworks were covered, not much money was left for direct funding into the RSVP program.
“We’re able to get the donations and the sponsorships for the fireworks,” Walt said,” to the ticket sales from the carnival. What my hope always was, and it may come to fruition, then that will be fundraising (for RSVP), funds that we will be able to use.”
A GoFundMe page was established for community donations. At the time of this publication, $1,080 of the $7,500 goal has been reached. Fundraising efforts have raised $20,865 in total, according to Walt, with $3,435 left to be raised to reach the organization's goal.
“I don’t know that people are using GoFundMe as much as they are mailing in donations,” Walt said. “We’ve gotten some major donations from community members.”
Major business sponsors for the event, meaning donations of $5,000, include Carson City Toyota, Quick Space, Chromalloy, Carson Home Furnishings, and the Carson City Downtown Business Association, according to Walt. Additionally, Casino Fandango is donating big to provide for the sponsorship dinner.
“We’re supplying all of Mills Park with portable bathrooms and restrooms for even parts of Mills Park we won’t use,” Walt said. “We are putting restrooms throughout all of Mills Park for those who are going to be watching the fireworks. (Quick Space) gave us a pretty decent discount.”
As Walt puts the finishing touches on event permits required by the city, she said the community response has been phenomenal as well as the support from the city and its officials.
“This is something that the community really, really wants,” Walt said. “Then it’s like, we’re going to work diligently to make sure we get it to the community, that we can give them the fair and the fireworks show, but at the same time make sure we’re not losing money.”
As an annual summer event, Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong said the RSVP July 4 carnival and fireworks weekend "draws a pretty hefty response" by the sheriff's office, especially during peak times. Law enforcement focuses on the safety of those people who cross streets, especially William Street/Highway 50 to get to Mills Park, as well as maintaining a presence throughout the event.
"We are doing everything we can to ensure a safe Fourth of July," said Furlong.
Go here for a full schedule of carnival activities, including live music and vendors, during the four-day celebration in Mills Park beginning on Thursday, July 1.
Firework donations (mailed-in):
Carson City
Carson City Toyota
Shelly Aldean
CGI, Inc.
Yvonne Rickman Insurance
Breana Coons
Leon Coley
Teresa Shouppe
Sue and Stan Jones
Greenhouse Garden Center and Gift Center
Gerald Massad
Elayn Briggs
William and Rebecca Mabray
Barbara McGuire
Western Nevada Supply
Lila Halpern
Judy DeBuis - DuBois' Health Food Center & Herb Shoppe
Irvin Miller
Empire Ranch Golf Course
Lisa Schuette
Lenae Dericco
P. Smith
Event Sponsors:
Steve Hamilton
Carson City Toyota
Quick Space
Southwest Gas
Carson Tahoe Health
Sharol Janes
Sierra Academy of Style
Casino Fandango
Capital Ford
Reno Orthopedic Clinic
Chromalloy
Bank Saloon/Mangia Tutto
Dr. Justin Kiggins
The Fox Brewpub
Gold Dust West
Carson City Community Archive
Carson Home Furnishings
Battle Born Auto Body
Vital Signs
RCM
NBI (Robert Hutt)
Mayor Bagwell
Carson City Downtown Business Association
Allison MacKenzie, Ltd
Dayton Valley Golf Course
Park Place Laundry
Park Place Mercantile
The Pour House
GoFundMe donors (as of June 28):
Leslie Olson
Sandra Severance
Anonymous
Melanie Barkley
Anonymous
Brian & Lorna Coclich
Anonymous
Constance Lucido
Ralph Weir
Cindy Walker
Anonymous
Anonymous
Richard and Lori Campbell
Patricia Capistrant
Laura Hale
Robert and Billie Thomas
Cindy & Mark Crowder
Anonymous
James Shabi
Kathy Anthony
Blair Allen
