The Fowlerville July 4th celebration is a 32-year tradition, but this year was almost history.

"We weren't sure we were going to be able to have a show," Peggy Ogden of the Fowlerville Fireworks Committee said.

Until retail giant Walmart stepped in.

"Walmart came in and gave us $2,500," Allen Hale, another committee member, said.

The Fowlerville Fireworks Committee said they just don't have the money like they used to and fireworks don't come cheap.

"It's a struggle every year," Ogden said. "The past couple years have been really bad, but every year we make it somehow."

The problem for smaller communities like Fowlerville, is that they not only have to deal with smaller budgets, but the price of fireworks is increasing too.

"To get the same amount of fireworks it'll cost $500 to $600 dollars more per year," Larry Holley said.

Holley, owner of the Eaton Rapids' HoBo Fireworks Company, said in the industry, almost everything depends on what happens in China.

"The Orient produces about 70 percent of the fireworks here," Holley said.

He said companies stock pile fireworks a year in advance, but a large factory fire in China last year will affect supplies and prices here in the next few years.

"Maybe by 2010, a lot of smaller communities may not be able to afford fireworks because only the larger communities will have the resources to do it," he said.

Fowlerville is hoping for more donations next year so they can get the best bang for their buck.