The "city" does not pay for the fireworks.

Again, those of you complaining about the display, open your wallets to improve it.

The city fireworks show has become a joke. Very short. Poor aerial show. It really disappointed the kids this year. It has to be the worst one they've ever had.

If you want to go to regularly scheduled, nicely managed adult and family events and see a beautiful riverfront park, drive 15-20 minutes south to Beloit. Ditto for a great farmers' market!

Janesville just doesn't seem to get it - all we can seem to muster is the shamelessly self-promoting Freedumb Fest and a lousy weekend circuit on Milton Ave crawling with juvenile yahoos in pick-up trucks.

FYI: Fireworks will be launched off barges in the middle of Lake Koshkonong southwest of Sunset Bar -Jefferson County JULY 14th

Watch from a boat and listen to whatever music you want to listen to! Watch from shore or a boat. Get up close, or watch from a distance. It's always a good show -- Be safe!

wow.. I can't believe this event generated so much political type comment. I had to work the 4th, and have never seen an aqua jays show, but I've heard they're good? I wouldn't have come out anyway, d/t the heat. I agree with those that say if you don't like what is offered, pick up the phone and offer to help next time...

Sigma40 - Did you just move to this city? You obviously frequent this website and there has been many stories on this website. Not to mention I saw donation boxes at many establishments, etc and it has been made clear for the past few years the Aqua Jays are handling this.

Maybe they should run an article on the front page prior to the event asking if anyone wants to help. I knew nothing of the event or who it was or wasnt sponsored by until this article came out.... The Gazette = No help in setting it up... big help in knocking it down. And you guys think im bad....bwhahaha

To all those complaining about the sponsorship and level of support of Freedom Fest need to remember it was not always that way. I know many people were very skeptical about donating to this event when it first started out. It takes vision and execution and over the years it has become bigger because people see the results.

I think the same can be said for the Traxler event. People are not supporting it through sponsorship or by showing up. They are making their voice heard that how it has been done is not something they want to be apart of.

You can't live in the past and without a vision the people perish, so for those of you wanting something as an alternative to Freedom Fest, start your own movement and try to gain support. Sponsors will support it financially if they see you can pull it off and people show up.

Sigma40 - May I suggest you move if you are that unhappy? It's quite obvious you complaining on here on a daily basis isn't changing anything in your life.

Yes, the weather was too hot afternoon of July 4. However, the ski show and food were excellent. Fireworks were also fun. Brought back many fond memories of Janesville and a reson we moved here. If I am correct, the event was sponsored by local businesses and individuals. I think this shows excellent community involvment. No need for politics.

Spark - No im not off track. Janesville is like a concentration camp compared to other towns. Is it better? Not at all... if anything that just creates more problems. Why cant people park in the grass along Parker drive anymore? Cops got signs everywhere. Are they saying it is unsafe or something? It was safe for 20+ years and all of a sudden one day its not???? Because its Camp Janesville run by the Janesville Police Corporation.....Yep.

Sigma40 - You are going so far off track with this subject. The reason the event isn't what it used to be is because they aren't receiving any support or money donations. If you have followed the news on this subject over the last decade, you would understand. It's about funding. When the Odd Fellows took over for the Jaycees, they asked for donations. They received hardly anything. Then people complained the show was bad. Hello?! After that, they quit taking it on and who can blame them. Not to mention you have freedom fest where a majority of people hang out in neighboring areas to throw parties and watch the fireworks. Most don't even go into the actual event. Going to be difficult to compete with that when it's four days before the Janesville event.

Bigmike - Well said and you took the words out of my mouth. The Jaycees did their best and their was little support from the community. The same people that always complained about the fireworks never donated a dime to the cause. These things aren't free. Not to mention Freedom Fest has huge member dollar contributions along with some big sponsors.
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Redder and Sigma - How much did you donate to the past fourth of July events? Because that's what it takes. Otherwise maybe you should volunteer your time to improve it.

The difference is the way the people are treated. Janesville treats all people like they are immature and cant be responsible. So stating this most people think that all events are out of control and dont want them. Right now its made known that we cant have an event without problems. All events have problems its how they are handled. Other towns take care of the bad and let the good continue. Janesville calls out the bad, shuts down the good and highlights the bad as the main event. What do you expect? That is why we have police to take care of the bad. Why do the police cry and complain because they have to do their job?? Yes, they are babysitters of the people and thats what we pay them for. They need to do their job sorting out the bad so the rest can injoy the good. But no, they shut it all down and blame the event for the happenings... janesville is so stupid for acting this way. That is why other town are succesful, they dont have a police department running the entire city.... the police focus on their job instead... what Janesville SHOULD be doing. The JPD is running businesses, managing all sorts of things in janesville. Thats why we fail.

The Jaycees tried their best. It used to be a 3 day event with beer tent, bands, carnival and culminating on the 4th with the ski show and the fireworks. The Jaycees did not get enough support from the community to continue the event. Then the odd fellows lodge tried for a couple years and also could not break even. That tells me that enough people want a more family oriented, less alcohol fueled event. Compare Freedom Fest and the event at Traxler. Freedom Fest was packed. It was still comparable weather between the two. Freedom Fest had no alcohol and no metal bands. Instead they had a huge carnival, family music, reasonably priced food and drink and it was a good time. Beer tents and loud music were great 15 years ago. Times have changed. If you wanted to make the 4th at Traxler Park a success again, I think you need to look no farther than what Freedom Fest did and take a look at what Milton does. Do a 10K run in the morning, carnival and food and appropriate music on the grounds during the day, parade at noon, ski show at 7 and fireworks after. Leave the booze out of it.

Run, parade and great fireworks in Milton. The Aqua Jays stepped up but I agree with other comments. Smaller cities have come together and put on the event as a community rather than relying on one specific organization.

The booms of the river valley are still impressive at Traxler but I appreciated the open venue of Schulsburg Park.

The best fireworks were last weekend at Freedom Fest anyways :-)

Cooler heads should have assessed the dangerous heat and dryness and cancelled the whole day's activities. The organizers can't really complain when it appears that the majority of the public made that decision for themselves.

Sigma - you took what I said and filled in a lot of areas on your own. I agree that the ordinance of double fenceline for the beer area is stupid. I don't have kids and would like to enjoy beers at an event. What I always observed was the behavior of the Jaycees running this event and their choices. Putting on heavy metal in early afternoon was a bad choice. There was no customer service - it was all about their drunken good time. They ruined there own event. They were/are immature and the collapse of support for, and the event itself reflects that you can't have drunken children organize at that level. Some how Milton, Edgerton and other area communities (even Tiffany) know how to do it. I believe the difference is the group that organizes and runs the event.

bigchip - Why must everything be just for families? Its the 4th of july it is supposed to be a big party. Party = alcohol, live music, and there should also be dancing girls there too. But oh no.... some people think they need to bring their entire family. Take them to chucky cheese... geez.
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Here we are trying to celebrate our "freedom" and everything is regulated. We cant do anything, have anything, because people cry and complain. News flash.... it isnt about just families, its for everyone individual. I think its BS i cant have a mixed drink and walk around and watch a live band... you cant even have a beer without being treated like cattle corralled in a pen.
We the stupid people of the USA ruined everything we had going. Because everyone is insecure and afraid. How pathetic.

I think the reason the former 4th event is no longer at Traxler is because of the Jaycees. This was truly an alchoholic club that brought in music that wasn't family friendly and their deplorable behavior resulted in reduced attendance until it was no longer. The Jaycees would beg for local support and understandably that too was shrinking. Yes, Milton or even Edgerton have way more class and ability to put on club run event than our own drunken Jaycees.

I'd like an interview with the couple from Arkansas, when it's snowing, and we are all in shorts and t-shirts :)

Didnt i just read the city put 1.5 million dollars in the baseball fields at the sports complex... and they cant even help pay for 1 event? Do we really need 8 baseball fields? And cant afford an event that is important and favored by the majority?

Then don't cry about it....get someone else to do it other than the Jaycees....let the "city" do it and actually plan something otherwise it will continue to flop. Poor planning or failing to plan is the only excusr this event has. Or just dump it...but none the less, other towns do a far better job than Janesville

HELLO... people.... what part of 100 degree temperature and tinder dry conditions don't you understand?

Independence Day celebrations... YES... Fireworks when personal property is at risk... NO... Give it a break already!

The "city" never put on the forth--the Jaycee's did--the "city" only forgave some extra police.

The problem is the "City" doesnt do anything at Traxler anymore...it used to be fun. Look at Milton, a parade a carnival, beer tent with bands...food games helicopter rides...what has Traxler got going on...little shad and water skiing...bad parking, someone needs to put a little effort into the event to attract people. That means you got to spend a little money and get some sponsorship and rock the party. If you show you put effort into it people will come and enjoy the flavor.

I drove through at 3 pm. Taste of Janesville???
Do you mean the 5 food stands next to each other near the bleechers???
Didn't seem like a "happening to me".

The survey is silly. There are NOT 2 JVL events. One is JVL and one is another venue. Are you going to make one of them quit- NO. YOu can go to one or you can go to both. Maybe you can only get to one of them. It is not an issue.

Everyone was in Evansville for the greatest fireworks in the midwest and good parade.

What happened to the big festivals that used to go on at traxler during the week of the 4th? I drove by tuesday and there was nothing there. And you wonder why no one goes? Because there isnt anything to go to. Was there a band/bands?