Neighbor Days Goes On Despite Financial Woes Organizers Sign Up Sponsors Rather Than Rely On Fund-Raisers

The 19th-annual Independence Day celebration in Riverfront Park is set to start Monday, still saddled with financial losses from last year.

Neighbor Days will run Monday and Tuesday, finishing with fireworks on the Fourth of July.

The celebration attracts more than 100,000 people annually to Riverfront Park, organizers said.

Organizers still are raising money for this year’s events, as well as paying off last year’s bills to 12 vendors.

A shortfall arose last year because officials relied on fund-raisers that didn’t make money. That included selling T-shirts and the world’s largest apple pie and holding tea and country dances.

“They were fund-losers, so we couldn’t pay the bill,” said Lee McLeron, coordinator of events.

Last year’s costs amounted to about $100,000. Fund-raisers during 1994 Neighbor Days earned only $60,000.

This year, organizers are going back to their traditional way of raising money for Neighbor Days - attracting sponsors.

About 80 sponsors have committed, compared with fewer than 10 last year.

Financial woes haven’t gotten in the way of improving Neighbor Days.

One added activity this year is Bouncy Boxing. Participants will box while bouncing up and down.

“It’s like boxing with kangaroo gloves on a water bed,” McLeron said.

Other attractions include an ethnic food fair of Thai, Philippine and Caribbean foods, concerts throughout both days and children’s activities.

For adults, a beverage garden will be open until 10 p.m. That’s three hours later than last year’s 7 p.m. close.

At 8 p.m. Monday, the reggae band Jumbalassy will play on the Lilac Bowl stage.

Tuesday at 8:15 p.m., the Spokane Jazz Orchestra will play in the Lilac Bowl.

Riverfront Park fireworks will begin at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, closing the event.

, DataTimes