'Canopy Kaboom' canceled due to Charlotte County burn ban

BABCOCK RANCH, Fla. (WINK) — A beloved Fourth of July tradition in Babcock Ranch is on hold this year, but the community effort behind it is continuing.

Organizers of Canopy Kaboom tell WINK News they are canceling this year’s neighborhood fireworks show because of Charlotte County ongoing burn ban, which prohibits the private use and discharge of fireworks due to elevated wildfire conditions.

The event began in 2020 as a small gathering among neighbors on Canopy Court. Over the years, it has grown into a community-funded celebration that draws hundreds of people and raises thousands of dollars for local nonprofits and graduating seniors at Babcock Neighborhood School.

Organizer Jessie Smutney said the decision to cancel did not come easily.

He and his wife spent weeks exploring ways to safely and legally move forward, reaching out to county officials, law enforcement and the fire marshal before ultimately deciding the safest choice was to cancel.

“The last thing I want to do is put our first responders, our firefighters, or  homeowners around us in a dangerous situation,” Smutney said.

While the fireworks won’t light up the sky this year, organizers say the event’s mission will continue.

Legacy Pressure Pros, the Smutney family’s business, will personally contribute $2,000 to ensure two scholarships for graduating Babcock Neighborhood School students are still awarded. Students earn the scholarships by submitting essays describing how they have given back to their community, with the awards available to graduates pursuing either college or trade school.

Organizers also say donors who choose not to receive refunds may have their contributions added to the scholarship fund, potentially increasing the amount awarded to students this year.

Residents say the event has become much more than a fireworks show.

“They give away a lot of money to a lot of great charities,” Babcock Ranch resident Bill Polk said. “We donate every year, and it’s a great show, good cause.”

Another resident, Lynn Ann Snellman, said the event reflects the close-knit nature of the community.

“They’re very community-oriented people,” Snellman said. “I thought that was really heartwarming.”

Although Canopy Kaboom is canceled for now, there are still other ways to celebrate Independence Day. The City of Punta Gorda says its professionally permitted Fourth of July fireworks show is still scheduled to take place, while Babcock Ranch will celebrate with live entertainment, family activities and a drone show honoring America’s 250th anniversary.

Charlotte County commissioners have scheduled a special meeting for Thursday morning to consider lifting the county’s burn ban. Smutney told WINK News he plans to monitor the meeting closely and said that if the ban is lifted, organizers may explore whether a much smaller-scale celebration is still possible.

As of Tuesday evening, however, Canopy Kaboom remains canceled.