Storm Lake fireworks fundraiser reaches $23,000 toward $50,000 goal
Storm Lake’s fireworks fund hit $23,000 after two weeks, leaving $27,000 still to raise before the July 3-4 celebration.
Storm Lake’s Independence Day fund is still short of the finish line, even after a strong start. Organizers for the 2026 Star Spangled Spectacular said the campaign reached $23,000 after two full weeks of donations, leaving a $27,000 gap before the $50,000 goal is met.
That money matters because the holiday celebration is built on public support, not a routine city line item. The event, scheduled for July 3-4, draws thousands to the Storm Lake lakeshore for two days of family activities, live entertainment and the city’s signature fireworks display. Organizers say the annual celebration brings more than 10,000 visitors to Storm Lake each year, which is part of why the fundraising push carries weight far beyond the fireworks themselves.
Fundraising co-chair Josh Newhouse said several donors increased their giving this year, and multiple first-time donors also stepped up. He also said the committee heard from people who had not donated in years, a sign that the event still has broad local pull even as the campaign continues. Co-chair Matt Brostad said online donations are growing, adding another channel to a drive that began June 1 with more than 700 donation letters mailed to past contributors and new supporters.
The 2026 campaign is being led by Matt and Katie Brostad as co-commodores, alongside commodores Tyler and Deidre Aube. The theme, Built on Freedom, Bound by Community, was selected by Tyler and Deidre Aube and reflects the way the celebration is financed year after year: through small gifts, repeat support and donations from people who want the holiday to keep going.
Last year’s numbers show how close these campaigns often run. The 2025 Star Spangled Spectacular set a $45,000 goal and brought in just over $43,000 in cash and in-kind donations, with bills from vendors still arriving after the event. This year’s effort is already ahead of that pace, but organizers still have to close the remaining gap before the holiday arrives.
Programming for the 2026 event is also taking shape. PetRock Band is set to return as the July 3 headliner at Sunset Park Bandshell, while organizers continue to line up parade entries, food vendors and family activities. For Storm Lake, the fundraiser is now in the critical stretch, and the size of the remaining gap will shape how much of the July 4 tradition can be delivered as planned.
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