In some cases, it’s not just the fireworks shows getting the ax. Municipal and corporate sponsors, forced into frugality by the tough economy, have reduced or pulled funding for whole festivals encompassing music, food and other staples of summer.

Fireworks fans acknowledge the tough realities, but also say free fireworks shows aren’t frivolous — rather, that they’re a nearly sacred institution.

“The economic calamity that has hit the nation is something that we can understand,” Dave Richmond, 41, of Parma, Ohio, wrote in an e-mail after the city decided it couldn’t justify a $25,000 fireworks show amid a tax revenue shortfall of $2.4 million and furloughs of city workers. But “we feel jaded and very disappointed that a celebration of what our Founding Fathers worked so hard to give us is squandered by those who collect and spend our tax dollars.” Richmond has attended the celebration since 1972.

Some fireworks companies have reported that business is off about 10 percent from last year, said Julie L. Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, an industry group.

“We’ve not seen communities struggle to the level that they are this year to be able to fund their shows,” she said.

Shows are being canceled from sea to shining sea:

An Associated Press survey found that traditional festivals and fireworks displays, normally costing organizers tens of thousands of dollars to present each year, have been canceled this year in San Jose, Calif.; Charlottesville, Va.; Hialeah, Fla.; Mesa, Ariz.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Niceville, Fla.; and Garland, Texas.

Stephen Vitale, president of Pennsylvania-based Pyrotecnico, said while his company is doing more shows this year because the holiday falls on a weekend, it’s clear that communities are struggling to pay for displays.

“They fight real hard to keep it when they can,” Vitale said.

Still, there will be an estimated 14,000 firework displays this year.

Lisa Byers can be reached at 724-6370, ext. 277 or by e-mail at lbyers@meadvilletribune.com. Associated Press contributed to this report.