SANDPOINT — Fundraisers for this year's Fourth of July festivities in Sandpoint fell short of the breakeven point, Sandpoint Lions Club officials said.

The club, which sells raffle tickets and accepts donations for the patriotic celebration, said fundraising fell roughly $7,914 short of the amount needed to break even.

“While the Sandpoint Lions Club enjoys providing the annual Fourth of July celebration for the community, it comes at a hefty cost,” said Rader, a club spokesperson. “There are months of preparations for our team of volunteers. Also, the costs for permits and fireworks have been increasing steadily for the past few years.”

Prior to July 4, Lions Club officials warned they would explore all options — including ending the annual celebration — if fundraising efforts failed to cover costs.

Low ticket sales and minimal donations in recent years have forced the club to dip into its savings to cover expenses for the parade, raffle and fireworks. A vote held before the celebration showed support for halting the event if fundraising did not at least cover its costs.

Each year, thousands pack the streets and sidewalks of downtown Sandpoint for a full day of patriotic fun as the Lions host their annual Fourth of July celebration.

However, Rader said the cherished community tradition comes at a significant cost.

The fireworks and parade — which cost about $31,000 to produce, including a $375 parade permit charged by the city — are funded through the club’s annual raffle and a club-run fireworks stand.

Proceeds from raffle ticket sales are vital in helping fund the celebration — as well as other community programs, such as the club’s Toys for Tots initiative, which provides Christmas gifts for youth in need in the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

This year, the top raffle prize — a $5,000 Bonner County shopping spree — was won by Bev Clark. The second-place prize of $1,000 cash went to Tom Robideaux.

While the parade generates roughly $4,500 if 100 people sign up to participate, all of those funds go toward traffic control and parade permits.

Each year, thousands of residents and visitors pack downtown for a full day of patriotic festivities — from the annual children’s parade to the hour-long Grand Parade, which this year featured grand marshal Dale Coffelt. After the parades, activities moved to City Beach, which included an all-day party with a beer garden and a wide array of food vendors.

The Lions have sponsored the annual Fourth of July celebration for more than 70 years, except for a one-year break during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, the event was held by a grassroots group, Save Independence Day Sandpoint. In 2021, the city voted to give the permit to host July Fourth events to the Sandpoint Lions, denying SID’s application and appeal.

The conflict arose after both groups submitted dueling applications for the celebration. City officials voted to grant the permit to the Lions, citing the city’s special event policy, which considers both the timing of the application and traditional event dates — giving preference to historic hosts.

While it’s a lot of hard work, Rader said the Lions love putting on the Fourth of July festivities and hope to find a way forward to ensure the community celebration continues.

“We would love to continue this yearly tradition and hope we can find funding to help with the cost of the fireworks,” Rader said.

For more information on the Sandpoint Lions Club’s activities and community support, visit sandpointlions.wixsite.com.

    A group of youngsters celebrate the Fourth as they ride a float in a past Fourth of July Grand Parade.