Robert Johnsen has been putting on the Halloween fireworks show at Storey’s Beach park in Port Hardy for 25 years now, and this Halloween will be his final curtain call.
“I’ve been running it for 25 years now. It’s time to move on and let someone else step in and take over,” said Johnsen.
He added that he has many great memories from the year’s past, but his personal favourite is “Just seeing the community all come together to celebrate. It’s been great, it’s been safe, no one’s been hurt, it’s been a good thing for our community and it’s sad that I have to let it end now, but it’s time for me to find other things to do.”
Johnsen organizes the fireworks show (he has his pyrotechnics license), and he always makes sure it’s “safe for everyone,” he said.
He usually spends around $4,000 on fireworks every year, which is all graciously donated by local businesses.
“We always get a ton of people showing up to watch, but it’s really all for the kids,” said Johnsen. “People always ask me what time it starts, and I always say 8 p.m.”
Johnsen stated that he wants to say “thank you to the community for all their generosity and their attendance over the years,” adding that “hopefully this year we’ll have some good weather. Halloween is a Monday night, and it will start at 8 p.m. at Storey’s Beach park. It’s been held there for 25 years and it’s gonna end there.”