Go 4th on the River !
Photo by Patrick Quigley
The Crescent City is the place to spend your Star Spangled holiday this year . New Orleans has become one of the top destinations for visitors to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday . And much of the kudos to this feat is because of our premier event : Go 4th on the River . This community project , produced by the Riverfront Marketing Group , is a family-treasured traditional fireworks display over the Mighty Mississippi , attracting locals and tourists from around the world .
The first Go 4th on the River event was produced by Riverfront merchants and residents in 1991 to mark the end of the Gulf War as President George H . W . Bush called upon Americans to celebrate Independence Day like never before . In 2002 , after the horror of the 9 / 11 events , the group incorporated , forming the Riverfront Marketing Group with the goal of producing the dueling barges fireworks display along the historic downtown New Orleans Riverfront . In 2003 , the Riverfront Marketing Group became a 501 ( c )( 4 ) organization with the same mission . Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was a devastating blow to our area , affecting many , including the industries along the river . Barge costs soared , threatening to end the unique dueling barges fireworks display .
The Riverfront Marketing Group was “ adopted ” by a “ real life Uncle Sam ” when Sam Zito , owner of Zito Companies , generously stepped forward to donate the use of two tugs and two barges . For 16 years , “ Uncle Sam ” Zito donated the tugs and barges for what has become New Orleans ’ nationally acclaimed Dueling Barges Fireworks Show . The fireworks display is FREE and can be seen from both the East & West banks of the river , from the Outlet Collection at the Riverwalk to Crescent Park ’ s 4th Fest celebration .
The COVID-19 pandemic dealt another blow , forcing the event ’ s 2020 cancellation . And in 2021 , with only 72 hours left on the clock before July 4 , the Riverfront Marketing Group received generous support from actor Will Smith and the Westbrook Foundation to have the fireworks that year .
Every year , the Riverfront Marketing Group must start over and raise the funding for the event . This year Hurricane Ida has affected costs to secure the critical maritime infrastructure for the event , so the Riverfront Marketing Group is reaching out to the community for support to produce a spectacular single-barge show this year . For more information on how to support the event , go to http :// www . go4thontheriver . com /.
French Quarterly Magazine is a proud sponsor of the 2022 Go 4th on the River
www . FrenchQuarterly . com Summer 2022 | 9