At 6:41 a.m. on a Friday late in May, Richfield's Fourth of July committee launched a Twitter stream, cheerfully predicting a "great celebration."
At 7:11 a.m. that same morning, the committee added a darker tweet: It would take a "miracle" for the festival to take place at all. "Please people," it implored, "help support us."
By late Friday, the group's treasurer was saying the city's celebrated Fourth will go ahead, but with scaled-back fireworks from last year's and a yawning gap between spending and revenue.
In a year when suburbs and small towns across America are canceling their fireworks shows to save money, most of those in Minnesota do seem to be going ahead. But rarely have there been as many questions as to who is going to pay, and what -- if anything -- the kids on blankets spread out on the grass will see after dusk.
Elk River won't have a display at all. Mankato almost found itself in the same spot, until a group of radio stations stepped in to save it.
Nationally, according to reports from across the country, the problem is a combination of severe government cutbacks that are making civic fireworks seem an extravagance, and a tumbling economy that is hitting private-sector sponsors. Colorado Springs, Colo., for instance, was not about to spend $75,000 for fireworks even as it was cutting the jobs of 200 people.
In the Twin Cities, most cities' displays will go ahead as usual, tonight and through the next few weeks. But there are signs of unusual stress. Richfield's Fourth committee posted an update on its website Wednesday saying it has only $41,790 and 3 cents, when the celebration could cost as much as $120,000.
Treasurer Lin Shurtleff said it shouldn't turn out that bad: Proceeds from other festival events, such as a street dance, should pay many of those bills. But it's "touch and go," she said, and ideally the festival shouldn't be burning its rubber quite so close to the rims.