Budget cuts have hit the holidays.
As a result of statewide reductions for public broadcasting and an inability to raise other funds, UF's WUFT-FM, WJUF-FM and their affiliate stations have canceled Fanfares & Fireworks - the annual Independence Day eve celebration and fireworks show.
Sue Wagner, spokeswoman for WUFT-FM, said the production costs upwards of $30,000, and efforts to raise the money through sponsorship failed.
The event, held at the UF Bandshell at Flavet Field, is free and open to the public. Wagner estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 people typically go to enjoy food, live music and the fireworks.
Rachel Ahrens, a 19-year-old Gainesville resident and Santa Fe College student, said she has been going to the festival for as long as she can remember.
Her family and friends go to celebrate her July 3 birthday as well as Independence Day.
"It makes you feel like a little kid again," she said. "It's a really comforting, family sort of event. I'll be bummed if they don't have it this year."
This year's cancellation is the second in 21 years.
In 2008, a shortage of funding threatened to cancel the fireworks display, but the event was saved by an anonymous $30,000 donation.
In 2009, budget shortages caused the event's cancellation for the first time since 1990.
This year, again faced with budget cuts, the management of WUFT-FM and WUFT-TV decided to direct funds toward maintaining the public television and radio programming, a news release said.
Last year, the show was entirely funded by outside organizations, such as the University Athletic Association, AvMed Health Plans and the City of Gainesville.
Wagner said UF's public broadcasting stations have been talking with additional outside organizations and businesses in hopes of finding enough funding to put on a show in 2012.
"It's not gone forever," she said.
