ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - Altamonte Springs officials voted to end the city’s yearly Red, Hot & Boom Fourth of July event.
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“The event was originally started to promote Uptown Altamonte and support economic growth,” the proposal states. “The event’s purpose has been achieved.”
Commissioners made the move to pull the plug Tuesday saying the event had become too large and expensive to regulate each year.
READ: City manager proposes canceling Red Hot and Boom to balance budget
The event ran for 29 years, which drew an estimated 220,000 people to Cranes Roost park each year.
For many locals, the hearing about the cancellation in August was disappointing. Dale Witter, an Altamonte Springs resident, attended the event this year with his daughter for the first time.
“It’s disappointing because again, a lot of people from, like I said, children that I know, nieces, nephews, they look forward to it,” Witter said. When asked if he would pay slightly higher taxes to keep the event alive, he replied, “I mean, I would for my daughter’s sake. Yeah, I would.”
This isn’t the first time residents saw changes made to the event as the city made changes in 2024 which made the fireworks smaller, putting more emphasis on the lineup for other forms of entertainment at the venue.
READ: One of the biggest fireworks shows in Central Florida is about to change
Officials are now considering community events to replace Red, Hot & Boom, but said that fireworks will not be a part of the lineup.
Commissioners did adopt a new budget that sits just under $122 million while keeping the city’s property tax rate the same.
Because of that, the Altamonte Springs City Library will also stay open for another year though commissioners continue to look for long-term options, including moving or outsourcing library operations.
READ: Push to save Altamonte Springs library continues as budget debate moves forward
Several residents pleaded the commission to keep the library open saying that it is an important resource for the city’s children.
The facility was nearly cut from the city budget in 2024, and supporters say they do not want to see it face another funding battle.
The approved budget gives the library another year of funding though the commission said it will continue to weigh its future impact on the city.
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