The Fourth of July is a little more than four months away but it's not too soon to begin planning for the event and start recruiting royalty candidates to help with fundraising.
"We're planning a normal Fourth, and will adjust as needed," said Stephanie Cook, executive director of the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce, which has organized the community celebration for decades.
"We're working out details now" for pandemic-related adjustments to the celebration, she said, such as hand-washing stations and safe distancing at events.
In another accommodation to the pandemic, royalty candidates will not be required to operate food booths this year, she said - it will be optional. One potential royalty candidate already has expressed interest in running a food booth, Cook said.
"We'd like to have food booths," she said. The food sales have been a downtown tradition to help raise money for the Fourth throughout the month of June, along with raffle ticket sales.
In past years, the food booths helped boost ticket sales, with the proceeds going toward paying for the raffle prizes, fireworks and other Fourth of July expenses, as well as to pay the royalty candidates.
Though the pandemic forced cancellation of many Fourth of July festivities last year, the fireworks went on, as did the parade, though the parade route was strung out through town to avoid people crowding together.
The fireworks were canceled in 2019 due to drought conditions and fire risk.
Back in 2019, raffle ticket sales totaled about $58,000, Cook said, with about 30% going to the royalty candidates.
"I am hopeful there will be a lot of people in the community who have gotten their vaccinations" in time for a return to a close-to-normal Fourth this year, she said.
Anyone interested in more information about signing up as a royalty candidate, or to help with planning for the Fourth, can call the chamber at 874-3901 or email stephanie@wrangell.chamber.com.
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