For the first time in about 11 years, there will be no Fourth of July celebration at Veterans Park in Lehigh Acres. And don’t look for a fireworks display either.

In the past, Lehigh Community Services has sponsored a Fun Freedom Day with games, vendors and food. A bounce house has been there on the Fourth for the children to play in along with several other attractions.

A lot of people brought food to the park and enjoyed a picnic while there were performances on the outside stage. In years past, the event began with the playing of the National Anthem and some years, there have been fireworks after dark.

But Rae Nicely, the executive director of Lehigh Community Services says there won’t be any celebration this year put on by Lehigh Community Services.

“Due to the economic conditions in the area, a celebration like this doesn’t support our mission which is to “Provide emergency services to residents of the community while promoting self-sufficiency,’” Nicely said.

Last year, the program began at 5 p.m. and in an hour or so, it began to rain.

Fireworks had been planned but had to be called off. It had been a couple of years since fireworks had been shot off in the park area because of dry times or the lack of money to pay for them.

Liz Eilf, former executive director of Lehigh Community Services, said the event began around 11 years ago as a fund-raiser for the agency which helps the needy in Lehigh.

“We had games, vendors, lots of food and entertainment on the stage,” she said. “It’s a shame that we are not going to have any type Fourth of July celebration in Lehigh this year,” she said. “We also began the program earlier in the day and a lot of people turned out. We asked for donations at the entrance of the park. What little money we made went in the general fund to pay for food, utilities and other help given by the agency.”

Nicely also said that due to the drought that everything is so dry that it would be dangerous even to have fireworks. But some other communities are holding fireworks in Southwest Florida.

In the past, local businesses have footed the bill to pay for fireworks, which can cost as much as $8,000 to $10,000, a hefty price with the economy being so bad.

But the night will still have fireworks, but only from people’s backyards. Tents are set up all over the area selling firework to the public.

There are public fireworks displays at Fort Myers Beach and in Bonita Springs and the beach has one of the largest crowds of the year to mark the occasion. Thousands of people shoot off their own fireworks on the beaches after dark. There are also public fireworks displays in other areas, such as Cape Coral.