DANVERS — The largest fireworks display on the North Shore has been postponed from Friday night until Sunday.
The delay will give the fields at Plains Park a chance to dry out, and with Sunday forecast to be a sunny day, will minimize the chance there'll be a repeat of last year's soaking,
Festivities in the park behind the Holten Richmond Middle School start at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 5. Fireworks start at 9:15, after a tribute to the late Donnie Barnett, known as "the Master Blaster" for organizing the fireworks for the past 18 years.
Organizers made the decision to delay the show Thursday afternoon after grounds workers raised concerns about holding the show on ballfields that have been saturated from several straight days rain, said Bill McKenzie, who oversees the logistics of the fireworks show for the Danvers Family Festival Committee.
McKenzie said yesterday it looked as if rivers of water were pouring through the fields at Plains Park.
"They were really concerned about bringing vendors on the field and foot traffic," he said. "It's not fair to bring people together for this event and expect them to sit on wet mud."
"We don't want the fields torn up with all the rain we have been having," said Selectman Gardner Trask.
Today, the weather promises to start out sunny, but there is a 60-percent chance of showers between noon and 5 p.m., the prime set-up time for vendors, many of whom use electricity, McKenzie said.
"Sunday, it doesn't even show anything wet," he said.
"Sunny Sunday is going to be coming any minute," said Keelin Dawe, this year's festival committee chairwoman. Dawe said organizers did not want a repeat of last year when a fast-moving thundershower drenched those gathered at the park around 6:45 p.m. The show went on after that.
"The town has ponied up and buckled up and they are supporting us. Everyone can have a day off tomorrow," Dawe said.
Despite the fireworks' postponement, McKenzie said this year's display promises to be the best one yet.
Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673, or by e-mail at eforman@salemnews.com.
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