The annual Labor Day fireworks show held at Panther Creek Park has been cancelled for 2020. The decision to cancel the Sept. 5 event was made by the County park department’s board of directors and Daviess County Fiscal Court, who agreed that the risk of spreading COVID-19 was too high to hold the event.
Daviess County Parks and Recreation Director Ross Leigh said this marks the first time the annual fireworks show has been cancelled rather than postponed or rescheduled.
The event normally brings thousands of people out to the west Daviess County park to enjoy food trucks, inflatables, pony rides and fireworks. But Leigh said when it came down to it, the board decided unanimously that the risks of bringing that many people together outweighed the benefits.
“A lot of people over the last 15, 16 years have been able to enjoy this event, but it boils down to the environment,” Leigh said. “There aren’t any weather conditions we’re concerned about. It’s the COVID risks. [The board] felt that having this event would increase the risk of spreading the virus.”
Leigh said the Parks and Rec department was “absolutely disappointed” about the cancellation. However, Leigh said there was a silver lining in the decision to cancel.
“The goal is to put more effort into our Christmas at Panther Creek event,” he said. “We’re looking to add more activities to that event and new lighting displays.”
Leigh said Fiscal Court agreed to transfer the money allocated toward the fireworks show to the Christmas at Panther Creek event. An additional $10,000 will go toward new lighting displays and a scavenger hunt activity that will be held from the safety of everyone’s vehicles.
There will be prizes for those who participate in the scavenger hunt and are able to find a designated number of items on the list, Leigh said.
