Independence Day is about one week away, and for the first time in three years, a fireworks display will return to the Perry Lake dam.

“At one time, it was a big event,” said Shannon Showalter, president of Perry Lake Assn., the group organizing the display.

The last Perry Lake fireworks display was in 2002, and Jefferson County officials estimated more than 100,000 people watched.

The display will be Sunday. That means Lawrence area residents will be able to see their town’s own fireworks display on the night of July 4. The Lawrence Jaycees have been organizing that display for at least 50 years, president Gary Saathoff said.

“We got some additional donations,” Saathoff said. “Last year we spent $10,000 on fireworks. This year we’re spending $12,000.”

The Jaycees received $7,000 from sponsor Emprise Bank in Lawrence, while the city of Lawrence contributed $5,000, Saathoff said. The entire budget for the event, which will include live music and food vendors at Burcham Park, the main gathering point for watching the display, will be between $14,000 and $16,000, he said.

Fireworks erupt during Lawrence's Independence Day display in this July 2005 file photo. The city's display this year will be in Burcham Park on July 4.

There is no admission for the event. The Journal-World is sponsoring the buses that will transport people to the park. As in previous years, the buses will make a loop of downtown parking lots to pick up and drop people off.

Mini-Frisbees, glow necklaces and 3-D style glasses for enhanced fireworks watching will be available in Burcham Park.

Perry Lake’s public fireworks display was stopped because of post-9-11 terrorism worries by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and insurance and financial concerns by the organizer of the event for seven years, Lake Perry Yacht & Marina.

Perry Lake Assn. died out several years ago, but it was regenerated by about 15 people in January 2005, Showalter said. Among the association’s goals was to find ways to attract more people to the lake and its parks, and returning the fireworks display was one way to do it, he said.

The Army Corps has given its blessing to this year’s display, and the association is cooperating with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office as well as emergency services and fire departments, Showalter said.

The association managed to raise about $23,000 for the display event.

“We’re pretty happy about the fundraising,” Showalter said. “There was a while when we didn’t think we were going to be able to do it.”

The association lined up several sponsors, and a Topeka radio, KMAJ 107.7, will simulcast the event. Food vendors will set up at Dedication Point near the Army Corps’ office. Donations will be sought per carload, which will be used for future association activities, Showalter said.

People attending both displays will be bringing their own lawn chairs and blankets. Onlookers will be able to view the Perry display from their boats as well as on land.