Walkerton will not have its annual fireworks show this year as the town prepares to celebrate 170 years and America’s 250th birthday.

Town leaders said they could no longer keep the event going without enough volunteers and community support.

The fireworks have been a longtime tradition in Walkerton, and many people in town said they were disappointed to see it canceled.

Town leaders said they spent the past year trying to save the event by sending more than 1,100 letters, posting on social media, adding notices to utility bills and holding public meetings. But they said the response was too limited to continue.