Fourth of July fireworks shows at state resort parks draw thousands to the area each year and have become a family favorite of locals and tourists alike.

But this year, under increasing budget constraints, the state opted to cancel all fireworks shows at state parks, including Kentucky Dam Village, Barkley and Kenlake Resorts.

But some locals say they just couldn’t stand by and let that happen.

A group known as the “Friends of Barkley Lake” have organized and are now announcing the show will go on at Barkley Resort.

Likewise, Rick Leeper, President of Kentucky Dam Marina, said he and his other two business partners, Walter Taylor and Eddie Davenport heard the news just two weeks ago and knew something had to be done at KDV.

“When the word started getting out that the shows had been canceled, there was a lot of concern. We knew we had to do something,” he said.

Leeper and his business partners got on the phone and began calling other local businesses, asking for help.

“All I can say is, this is a great county,” Leeper said. “Of the 12 businesses we contacted, only two said they just couldn’t help us.”

The businesses that agreed to help are Kentucky Lake Outdoor, Ray Barga and Assoc., Kentucky Dam Marina, 1st Kentucky Bank, Country Chevrolet, Kentuckiana Yacht, Smith Contracting, Pinnacle Construction, Travis Boat Dock and Lift and Vulcan Materials.

“The tradition is continuing because of these people,” Leeper said.

Of the short time-frame organizers had to pull the show together, Taylor said, “Unfortunately, we were left out of the loop on the cancellation, but we have scrambled to get donations and everyone has been more than willing to help us continue this Fourth of July tradition.”

Leeper said when the cancellation was first brought to their attention, they called Marshall County Judge-Executive Mike Miller to ask for help.

Miller recommended contacting former Kentucky Dam Village Recreational Manager Ken Frye, who was previously responsible for handling the fireworks show at the resort. Frye agreed to step in and donate his time to the project.

“This is a community tradition,” Miller said. “We knew we had to do something to make sure the show went on.

“Can you imagine all those people setting up their lawn chairs, or people waiting in their boats until dusk and not even realizing the 40-something year tradition had been canceled? We just couldn’t let that happen.”

Taylor said he and the other organizers are so grateful to the community, that they will be posting a 10-foot banner near the entrance of the park the day of the show to recognize the contributors.

As for next year, Taylor said, “We already know 2010 is not going to happen. The state is not going to be able to do it, but we will.

“You can bet when we sit down to do our budget next year, we will have some funds set aside for fireworks. We’ll surprise everyone with what we have.

“It may be twice the show it used to be or just half the show, I am not sure which,” he said with a laugh. “But one thing is for certain, the show must go on!”