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VIDALIA, La. – For nearly 10 years, Sabrina Dore has spearheaded the twice-a-year community fireworks shows on the Mississippi River.

And this year, as the Fourth of July event draws closer, she’s asking the community to help bring the pyrotechnic show to life.

“Due to increases in import costs, the show is much more expensive this year,” said Dore, a Vidalia insurance agent who has become the de-facto fireworks show director. “We’ve been working with Curtis Elkins of Pyromania in Bossier City to keep our expenses down while still giving the Miss-Lou the show they expect.”

And that show comes at a steep cost.

“The cost – just for the fireworks themselves – is $30,000 this year,” Dore said. “In previous years, the Fourth of July show cost has been about $25,000.”

That $5,000 increase is “big when it’s a sponsorship show,” she said. “And that does not include the costs of the barge service and the coast of Coast Guard permits to completely shut down the river. All in, the cost is about $32,000.”

As of Friday, “we’re still short about $15,000,” she said, adding that normally by the start of June sponsorships are in place to cover the show’s expense. She has until June 20 to raise the remaining funds this year.

“This year has been a little difficult getting sponsors,” Dore said. “Past sponsors are either not renewing their sponsorships or renewing at a lower level, which I understand. We are working to get some new sponsors on board, especially from surrounding areas like Monterey or Ferriday, as people come from these areas to enjoy the show.”

Both the City of Natchez and the Town of Vidalia contribute $5,000 to the fireworks show, which draws thousands of visitors to watch on both sides of the Mississippi River. Many businesses are stalwart supporters, and Dore said clubs and organizations also can help provide this free event for the community. “We have a lot of clubs, Mardi Gras krewes, chambers, garden clubs, historical societies and this is one way they can give back to the community …

“We also have lots of sororities and fraternities in the area who can support it as well.”

A significant portion of financial support also comes from community members and individuals “who want to make sure the show happens,” she said.

For those people, a new level of sponsorship is available.

“The family of Jason Tipton (a well-known veteran in Concordia Parish who died in March after being struck by a vehicle) reached out to me,” Dore said. “Jason had always done community sponsorship as a veteran, and they asked if they could do a memorial sponsorship to recognize him as a veteran.”

This year, sponsorships in memory of a deceased veteran or in honor of a living veteran are available at two levels: $250, including a photograph in promotional materials; and $100, including just the name in promotional materials.

“And this year’s grand finale will be dedicated to those vets who are sponsors,” Dore said.

All of the funds raised from the community go directly to the cost of fireworks. “One hundred percent of the donations goes to the cost of the fireworks,” Dore said.

Anyone interested in donating or becoming a sponsor can mail or deliver a check to Dore’s Shelter Insurance office at 1636 Carter St., Vidalia, La. 71373. She is accepting individual donations via Venmo at sabrina-dore. Details on sponsorship levels is available on the https://www.facebook.com/MissLouFireworks

“And even if you can’t afford to make a donation, if you can go to the Facebook page and engage with the posts and thank the sponsors, that would be helpful,” she said.