Ocala mayor proposes fireworks in lieu of drones for July 4th

File photo: A large American flag displayed by drones waves in the sky during Patriotic Skies: A Fourth of July Drone Experience at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala, Fla. on Thursday, July 4, 2024. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Since the contract for Ocala’s July 4^th drone show was terminated last month, the mayor has been brainstorming how to put on a fireworks show instead for a patriotic celebration.

Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano brought up local business owners at the Feb. 5 city council meeting to discuss the logistics and costs associated with putting on a fireworks show at Tuscawilla Park.

“Last year, the drone show was awesome, but obviously, I think the thing that I enjoyed the most is watching people come together,” Marciano said.

The city council signed a contract in December for two more years of drone shows with Sky Elements, but decided to terminate the contract after one of the company’s shows in Orlando went awry, seriously injuring a child.

John Casse, of Skylighters of Florida, was one of the business owners who offered to sponsor the show in the coming year to instead put on a fireworks display for the community in lieu of a drone show.

“I’ve done fireworks for the Symphony under the Stars for about 25 years,” Casse said. “I’ve done the fireworks for the veterans down at the Veterans’ Park for about the last 10 or 15 years.”

Casse has experience doing fireworks shows at Tuscawilla Park in a manner that is safe for spectators, he said.

“I’m here because my father, Norman Casse since around 1975 or 1976 had done ‘God and Country Day,’ and it was held down at Tuscawilla until about 20 years ago,” Casse said.

Casse also got into contact with Seminole Feed, to confirm that the facility near the park does not store any fertilizer or ammonium nitrate on the premises that might be a hazard if a fireworks show was nearby.

Don Gulling, president of Verteks Consulting, said he has been working to generate the funds to fund the explosives for the show.

“As a business leader, I’m committed to supporting it financially. I did some text messages and phone calls. I got a budget for fireworks. I’ve already got about half of it in already, and I think we can have it all in by the end of February,” he said.

The city has a budget of about $60,000 to fund the staffing and other expenses of the event. Marciano said that Marion County Commission Chair Michelle Stone expressed her support in aiding the city to fund the show.

The city council directed the Recreation and Parks Department to put together a proposal for the show, which could be placed on the council’s agenda as soon as March.

“I do think that this is one of the keystone events of an all-American city like ours that brings thousands of people together to celebrate Independence Day and showcase for civic pride and patriotism,” Gulling said.