Boom!

COEUR d'ALENE - The goal is $60,000.

That's how much it costs the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce to put on a day's worth of festivities during the annual Fourth of July celebration, according to Diane Higdem, events coordinator.

So while people may be used to seeing half that total - $30,000 - when fundraising for the fireworks show kicks off, it actually takes twice that to pay for the whole day's doings.

"We mostly just focused on what we needed for the fireworks show, when it's really an all-day event," Higdem said of past fundraising efforts. "There's a lot that goes into putting on an event of this size."

So this year's fundraising goal of $60,000 would not only cover the nighttime explosions, but the parade and party in City Park during the afternoon as well.

Last year, the chamber took enough to cover the fireworks show, and through other donations and fees earned from the parade and vendor rentals, managed to cover costs. That could play out again this year, but Higdem said she wanted the whole figure out there, since the costs come from an all-day event.

"This is not a money maker for the chamber at all, and that's not how we view it," she said.

During the year, the chamber has variety of donation opportunities available to the public, such as the Marina Challenge, the Backward Bucket Brigade and donations from citizens and businesses.

The chamber is looking into leasing city and county owned parking lots for the day and charging an all-day fee to help cover costs, as it did last year.

She encouraged businesses to stay open on Wednesday, July 4, as the influx of visitors, estimated at 30,000 people or more, makes the day an economic boon for the region.

She said she knows the fundraising goal is a big one, but "Coeur d'Alene is an outstanding community that has repeatedly shown its support for area events," she said.

To donate or for more information on the festival in the park or parade, which is called American Heroes, call the chamber of commerce at 664-3194 or Higdem directly at 292-1635.

Donations of $500 get a picture published in The Press and donations of $1,000 earn the donors four tickets for the fireworks show on the chamber's patio.