Spring Brings GoFourth Fireworks Fundraising

Photos by Dylan Brandt

A rainstorm failed to stop last year's fireworks display in Memorial Park.

The winter storms have passed (hopefully), the Canadian Geese are returning and Pennsylvania's mud season has begun, all of which means it's time to start thinking about July 4th fireworks.

Cancelled three times in the last six years, fireworks returned to Pottstown's Fourth of July festivities last year and fundraising has already begun to ensure they come again.

In an effort to get the ball rolling before the snow has all even melted, GoFourth organizers have

already set out a series of fundraising events from now into June.

The first will allow you to knock back a few pins in a good cause.

• A GoFourth Bowling and Basket Raffle Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Jay Lanes at 1428 Ben Franklin Highway in Douglassville.

A payment of $15 gets you a game and/or $20 gets you bowling and laser tag (shoe rentals included.)

Tickets can be purchased in advance by clicking here.

Advanced ticket-buyers will receive a Free GoFourth! T-shirt.

• A Fundraising Kick-Off Happy Hour will be held Thursday, April 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Steel River Playhouse on High Street.

A suggested donation of $10 gets you local lite fare, a basket raffle, cash bar and a slideshow presentation from last year's GoFourth festival.

• And on three Sundays, the Redner's supermarkets in Douglassville and the North End will host Merchandise Sales and Duck Ticket Sales Dates. They are:

Sunday May 5, Sunday, June 16 and Sunday, June 30, all from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Of course, if your pockets are a little deeper and you would like to play a larger role in helping fund the event, sponsorships are available.

Two lucky sponsors can make a tax-deductible donation of $10,000 and become fireworks sponsors.

Two entertainment sponsorships are available for $5,000 each. Other sponsorship levels are golf ($2,500); silver ($1,500); bronze ($1,000); copper ($500); friends of the festival ($250); neighbors of the festival $100).

For more information, visit the event web site — www.PottstownGoFourth.com — or seek them out on Facebook at PottstownGoFourth or on Twitter @GoFourthFest

Fundraising actually began last year with the Historic Pottstown Holiday House Tour, which this year will be held on Dec. 8.

The group has also continued and expanded another July 4th tradition, the Pottstown GoFourth Royal Court.

The Pottstown GoFourth! Royal Court is open to Homecoming Kings and Queens from the following school districts:

• Pottstown
  
• Pottsgrove
• Owen J. Roberts
• Boyertown
• Spring-Ford
• Daniel Boone
• Pope John Paul II

Participants raise money through their own fundraising efforts — for example, collection cans at local restaurants, car wash, bake sale, etc.

The highest earning King and the highest earning Queen will be named Pottstown GoFourth! King and Queen; the second highest earning King will be named Prince and the second highest earning Queen will be named Princess.

All participants will:

• Ride in the 4th of July Parade (hosted and sponsored by Pottstown Rotary Club)
• Receive 2 passes for VIP/reserved seating at the July 4 fireworks show, and a Pottstown GoFourth! Festival gift bag
• Receive a Pottstown GoFourth! Festival T-shirt
• King, Queen, Prince and Princess will be crowned on stage at the Pottstown GoFourth! Festival on July 4th