According to organizers, the bigger, better Onset Bay Fireworks Celebration that had been in the works may have to be tabled in favor of a more subdued display due to budgetary concerns.

"We wanted to have a much larger celebration in terms of the actual fireworks themselves," says Mary Lou Payton, the co-chair of the fundraising committee. "Now I'm not sure that's going to happen."

The event, which occurs in the skies over Onset every year on the Fourth of July, has had a difficult time gaining traction in the fundraising arena in the past few months. Organizers had hoped to raise $25,000 for this year's display, $5,000 more than last year.

"We're dependent on the citizens of Wareham to donate, and also the businesses," says Payton. "In terms of the overall financial picture, it's been less than what we were hoping for."

When asked whether or not the celebration would take place this year, Payton was confident that at least the normal festivities would occur.

" We will certainly have the show  that we typically put on, but we wanted to have something even more spectacular. I'm not sure at this point if we're going to be able to do that."

Payton attributes this year's difficulties to the high concentration of similarly-funded events taking place this summer. She says the Cape Cod Canal Centennial Celebration and Wareham's Summer of Celebration may have contributed to the downturn.

"We have these folks that are out there with us beating the bushes for funding as well, so that's been one of the problems."

The annual fundraising auction, held this year at Mezza Luna restaurant, was more successful than the donation efforts.

"The businesses have been very generous in their willingness to donate items that we could auction off," says Payton. "We had some very nice items.  We were very fortunate in that respect. It's the donations that are off."

Payton's counterpart in the co-chair position, Jackie Lindsey, emphasized the importance of small donations from individual townspeople.

"No donation is too small. If everyone in the town sent one dollar, the fireworks would be paid for," says Lindsey. "Every dollar adds up."

Payton, Lindsey, and the committee still hope to reach their goal in time to put on the celebration. Those wishing to contribute can donate online or send checks payable to Onset Bay Fireworks Committee to P.O. Box 147 in Wareham.