SEATTLE -- Fourth of July is two days away and preparations are underway for a big fireworks display. The "Family Fourth" at Lake Union was almost a dud, until the community pitched in to save the show.
KING 5 spoke to a man with personal ties to the display. Richard Frisch was the pyro-technician who helped set off the first fireworks display on Lake Union back in 1988.
"The first time was unbelievable to be right underneath it and to have the trigger button in your hand and you're firing this enormous amount of pyro-technic. It's a thrill," said Frisch, owner of Queen City Plating Company in Mukilteo, Wa.
Richard still hangs on to photos with the Japanese manufacturers of the fireworks who came to Seattle in 1988 to help launch the show over Lake Union. Also, he kept his ID passes for the inaugural event.
This year, Richard couldn't believe what he was hearing on Dave Ross's radio show on KIRO 97.3 F.M. in April that the fireworks show was canceled because a title sponsor pulled out.
Ross and Seattle chef, Tom Douglas, put out the call to people to help raise half-a-million dollars to pay for the event.
In less than 24 hours, small businesses like Richard's donated money along with large corporations like Microsoft and Starbucks.
"I found it both exhilarating and both refreshing to know that this many businesses and individuals would pool together what made so do able was small donations," said Frisch.
More than 50,000 thousand people are expected to attend this Sunday's display. Gasworks Park officially opens at noon and traffic enforcement will also start at noon.
A perimeter will be set up restricting traffic to "local access only" between Sunnyside Avenue N on the East, Interlake Avenue N on the West, N 39th Street on the North and N Northlake Way/Gasworks Park on the South.
Seattle Police suggest people get to the park no later than 6 p.m. because spaces fill up quickly. Also, consider public transportation.
The fireworks display begins at 10 p.m. on Sunday.
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