ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Altamonte Springs City Manager Proposes Canceling ‘Red Hot and Boom’ to Balance Budget
The iconic Fourth of July celebration in Altamonte Springs may be coming to an end. As part of the Recommended Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2027, the City Manager has proposed discontinuing “Red Hot and Boom” due to rising costs and logistical challenges.
The budget proposal, which begins October 1, 2026, aims to keep the city debt-free for the 15th consecutive year while reducing the overall budget by 10.83% over the past two years. To achieve this, officials are looking at cutting services that have become increasingly expensive.
“Red Hot and Boom” marked its 29th year this past July, drawing more than 220,000 visitors to Crane’s Roost Park. However, the cost to produce the event has nearly reached $950,000.
According to the budget proposal, inflation, tariffs, insurance, staffing, and security have driven prices up, while sponsorships only cover a fraction of the bill. The City Manager noted that the event has outgrown its venue, requires months of staff planning, and causes significant disruptions to surrounding businesses.
“The event was originally started to promote Uptown Altamonte and support economic growth,” the proposal states. “The event’s purpose has been achieved.”
For many locals, the potential cancellation is disappointing. Dale Witter, an Altamonte Springs resident, attended the event this year with his daughter for the first time.
“It’s disappointing because again, a lot of people from, like I said, children that I know, nieces, nephews, they look forward to it,” Witter said. When asked if he would pay slightly higher taxes to keep the event alive, he replied, “I mean, I would for my daughter’s sake. Yeah, I would.”
Lee Adler, who has lived in Altamonte Springs since 1982, said he is neutral on the issue due to traffic concerns but still supports the tradition.
“I’ll pay a few extra cents for it,” Adler said.
While the City Manager has presented these recommendations, no final decisions have been made. Altamonte Springs Commissioner Mike Brunscheen issued a statement emphasizing that the budget is still under review.
“A recommendation is not a decision,” Brunscheen said. “The City Manager has presented his recommended budget, but the City Commission has not adopted it and I have not cast a vote.”
Brunscheen added that he is listening to residents and reviewing the numbers carefully before the upcoming vote.
The Altamonte Springs City Commission will hold a public budget hearing on **September 3, 2026**. Residents will have the opportunity to share their thoughts before the commission votes on the final FY 2027 budget.
If approved, the millage rate will remain at 4.0, and the city will continue its trend of fiscal responsibility, though it may mean saying goodbye to a decades-old summer tradition.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.