The community will observe the Fourth of July this year with a no alcohol, no admission celebration in Fountain Park.

The change from recent years reflects the town’s intention to revert to an “old-fashioned 4th of July when families would bring a picnic or eat at a local restaurant, enjoy music while children tossed around a football or played Frisbee,” said Mayor Linda Kavanagh.

“This town must attract young families in order to be sustainable. This type of admission- and alcohol-free event is a step in that direction to brand our town as family-friendly.

“What better way to give something back to our own residents while drawing other families into town to take a look at our great hometown?”

Town staffers will plan and organize the free event that is expected to include fireworks. The new format will require raising about $26,000 to cover basic costs.

In recent years, sponsors charged adults $5, allowed the sale of alcohol and recruited food vendors. Profits, after expenses, went to veterans’ organizations, high school needs and community social programs.

In January, volunteers Christine Colley, Sam Coffee and Denise Dunning-Ricketts formed Fountain Events, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit to organize three town events: St. Patrick’s Day Festival, Fourth at the Fountain and Oktoberfest.

Last week, Fountain Events requested permission to proceed with this year’s event and change the format in 2017.

Colley, president, said the mayor advised them its event application did not require town council approval and the decision was final that the town would organize the observance.

Fountain Events declined a town invitation to participate, said Colley. She said the event model is not consistent with Fountain Events’ mission to “create family-friendly community events on a volunteer basis to raise funds for charities.”

In previous years, proceeds went to buy basketball uniforms for high school girls, band uniforms and provide funds for Extended Hands Food Bank, a veterans’ suicide prevention program and the Sister Citizens Student Exchange program, said Colley.

Fountain Events did receive a commitment from the town that future Oktoberfest and St. Patrick’s events would not be considered for changes.

“Fountain Events, Inc. has accepted this fate. There are more positive initiatives in town that we can support and that are valued,” Colley said. “Sadly, the service organizations that supported us and charities that benefited from our efforts are the ones to lose in this turn of events.”