Englewood's annual Fourth of July fireworks display is scheduled to go off without a hitch despite lack of community donations to fun the event.

ENGLEWOOD - The skies over Middle Beach on Manasota Key in Englewood will be a blaze of color Wednesday evening as the Englewood Jaycees set off their annual Fourth of July fireworks display.

The 30-minute spectacle is set to begin at 9 p.m., but the event's pyrotechnic coordinator Mike Ross said he has left open a three-hour window of opportunity for the fireworks to launch in case of rain.

"If there's foul weather, we will just postpone the show until the weather clears up," he said. "So people shouldn't leave just because we get delayed." He added that they will not launch past midnight.

Traditionally, the Jaycees throw a Beach Bash prior to the show, but as Ross explained, the group has come up $2,900 short in funds.

The event is funded entirely by community donations.

As the fireworks alone cost $10,000, the Jaycees have decided to cut back on the bash.

"It is going to be laid back this year," he said. "Usually the bash costs us a bit of money and this year we are having a hard enough time getting money for the fireworks."

Although there will not be any music or Jaycee-funded vendors present, outside ice cream, snow cone, hot dog and beverage vendors will be at hand to take care of the crowd.

But just because the bash is out, doesn't mean the show is going to be less impressive.

Ross said more than 800 fireworks shells have been purchased for the event, ranging from the traditional ring shells to varieties including willow trees, chrysanthemums, and a few shells that he has never used before.

"I've got an angel shell," he said. "I don't exactly know what it does, but I imagine it forms an angel."

According to Ross, the shells have been purchased from several countries, providing Englewood residents with a variety of booms and blasts.

If you are interested in making a donation to support the annual fireworks display, you can send donations to the Englewood Jaycees at P.O. Box 464, Englewood, FL 34295.

What: Englewood Jaycees annual Fourth of July fireworks display

When: 9 p.m.

Where: Middle Beach on Manasota Key in Englewood

The fireworks display will last for 30 minutes.