PITTSFIELD — The skies over Wahconah Park will be lit up for America’s 250th birthday, after all — but not on July 4.

Pittsfield announced Thursday it would be able to provide a belated Independence Day fireworks show on July 8 at 9:15 p.m., with July 9 as a rain date.

The city announced last week it would not be holding a fireworks display on July 4 because officials were unable to locate a vendor with availability on the holiday. Residents expressed dismay at the loss of one of the city's longtime holiday traditions, which brought families together in the evening after the day's parade festivities concluded.

In a press release, the city said the fireworks would be supported by donations from Pittsfield Cooperative Bank and George Haddad, president of Haddad Auto Group.

Haddad said he decided to step in after hearing the fireworks were canceled, not wanting Pittsfield to miss out on celebrating the nation’s semiquincentennial.

“I just thought I would try to help out,” he said.

Haddad said he knew another car dealer who chips in to fund local fireworks, and used that connection to puzzle out the best way to bring fireworks back to Pittsfield.

“We just figured it out,” he said. “The best that I could get done was the 8th, and I thought it was a great date.”

Catherine VanBramer, the city’s public information officer, said the fireworks display will cost $22,000. She said exact funding details are still being worked out with donors and it is unclear how much, if any, of that amount the city will need to pay.

The city may have to cover some additional costs, such as safety inspections and launch site preparations, VanBramer said.

“[Haddad’s] support is tremendous, and we're super grateful for his willingness to be a part of this, in addition to the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank as well,” she said. “When we want these great things to happen in the community, it's that great collaboration that really makes it possible.”

The fireworks will be provided by Pyrotecnico Fireworks Inc. through its New Hampshire location. A July 8 show cancellation in another state made it possible to put on a show in Pittsfield that day.

Pittsfield Cooperative Bank could not immediately be reached for comment.

Because Wahconah Park is an active construction site while the grandstand is being taken down, spectators can’t enter the grandstand or the baseball field to watch the fireworks. However, the fireworks will be visible throughout the surrounding neighborhood and the parking lot will remain available.

The longstanding tradition of launching fireworks at Wahconah Park on July 4 had previously been organized by the owners of the park’s current baseball team. The city took over the fireworks in 2025 after The Goldklang Group, owners of the Pittsfield Suns, stopped organizing them because the team had gone inactive.

“I just hope people enjoy it,” Haddad said of the fireworks display.

“Is it perfect? No,” he acknowledged. “It would be perfect on the Fourth.”

But, he said, “it’s close enough.”