My family and I have always appreciated the fireworks displays supported by the city of Duluth. For several years we have gone to Bayfront Festival Park to experience a fun event. We have always prepared low-cost, healthy snacks at home and have brought them in our own reusable containers. Everyone anticipates getting there early to set up blankets in nice locations so we can listen to the music and eagerly await the colorful display. In the past, we were welcomed to the park by representatives from Visit Duluth.
But this year was different.
This year we were not welcomed. Instead, we were greeted with a sign reading, "No bottles, cans, food, coolers or pets allowed. Bags may be searched." People were made to pass through a checkpoint with security guards looking through bags.
Since my 11-year-old son and I prepared our own snacks, we had to stay outside the gate.
People going inside the gate could buy overpriced junk food -- such as French fries, doughnuts and soda -- from vendors. We witnessed people sneaking behind the security guards or hiding their food by wrapping it in blankets or by stuffing it in the sleeves of sweatshirts.
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We set up our blankets in the grass outside the gate, behind the line of trees that borders the amphitheater area. Luckily, my son brought a book to read because we could not hear the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra's performance. Once the fireworks display started, we could only see the higher rockets bursting; the lower ones were blocked from our view by the trees.
I think the city was WRONG to allow a policy that restricted access to the Bayfront fireworks festivities. Was the city making some great profit from junk-food peddlers? What options were there for those who didn't want fried or sugar-loaded snacks? Why should we be subjected to a search and have our water bottles and granola bars confiscated?
Way to go, Duluth! Way to treat thoughtful, frugal, health-minded people like second-class citizens.
Susan Krochalk lives in Duluth.
