Altamonte Springs weighs future of Red Hot & Boom, library

Gail Paschall-BrownALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. —

Altamonte Springs is talking about ending one of the most popular 4th of July celebrations in Central Florida — Red Hot & Boom.

The city manager, Frank Martz, says the event has grown too large and too expensive and should be cut from Altamonte Springs’ $22 million budget for 2027.

Red Hot & Boom costs the city about $950,000 for everything from fireworks to staffing. 250,000 people attended this past event.

Forty-three people signed up to speak Thursday night, but the majority were more concerned about closing the Altamonte Springs Library.

“I never heard such a thing, coming from New York,” said resident Alta Marcelle. “Closing a library? A library? I never heard such a thing.”

Martz has recommended closing the 66-year-old library building and replacing it with a digital-first, community-based model.

Carly Jenkins, another resident, shared her perspective on both issues.

“I don’t go often, but I would like to see it stick around,” she said of the library. “As far as Red Hot & Boom goes, I think we’re all tired of the traffic from it. I’ve never even been to Red Hot & Boom because of how bad the traffic is, so I wouldn’t mind seeing that going.”

In the end, during what was a first reading, Altamonte Springs commissioners voted to support the budget and millage rate for the next fiscal year.

Commissioner Jim Turney also offered an amendment to keep the Altamonte Springs Library open until Sept. 30, 2027, and hopefully for years to come.

A meeting to craft that proposal will take place Oct. 7, while a second reading of the budget will occur Sept. 16 at City Hall.