From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Aug. 18, 1990:

The future of Lawrence’s annual Independence Days celebration was uncertain, according to a front-page article today, and the festival’s board of directors was scheduled to meet this week to consider “toning down” or perhaps even canceling 1991’s show because of financial problems. The 1990 Fourth of July festival had lost money, with the cost of putting it on exceeding revenues by more than $10,000, David Longhurst, board president, said today. Longhurst said low attendance, overspending, sales of one-day tickets, and other factors had led to the revenue shortfall. He added that organizers were seeking contributions to help pay off this year’s debt.