WATERLOO - There won't be any fireworks at the city's biggest summer festival this year, though organizers hope they'll still draw a bigger crowd.

My Waterloo Days director Jay Stoddard announced Wednesday afternoon that a lack of sponsorship means the fireworks display won't happen this year. He cited economic woes as a possible reason.

The festival runs May 28-31.

The news comes after the largest fireworks show in My Waterloo Days' history in 2008. That year, Hawkeye Alarm put up a reported $25,000 display in honor of the business's 50th anniversary.

Average fireworks displays run between $12,000 and $15,000.

"It's an extremely expensive event. Last year, it only lasted 27 minutes," Stoddard said. "As far as dollars per minute, it's about the most expensive thing you can do at an outdoor event."

Fireworks were absent in 2007, also for lack of sponsorship, Stoddard noted. He wasn't sure how many times in the 28 years of My Waterloo Days that fireworks had occurred.

Even without the crowd-pleasing display, organizers still hope to have a record turnout. Stoddard cites the newly constructed Waterloo Expo location, a full carnival and midway, an arts and crafts fair, mobile Wild Kingdom and Playstation 3 stations and a children and family area.

The festival also includes live music most of each afternoon, including the 80s rockers Great White at 9 p.m. May 30.

Though the committee is now focusing on other events, Stoddard said fireworks could still happen if a sponsor came out of nowhere.

"If someone came forward with $15,000, we would do it," he said. "I would be surprised if someone at this date would come forward, but there might be a business out there that would be willing to do it."

Contact Amie Steffen at (319) 291-1464 or amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.