Raleigh, Chapel Hill Try To Celebrate Fourth Of July For Second Time

Wednesday night's severe storm

was just a little more than the town and pyrotechnics crew could handle.

Cary was also forced to cancel its Fourth of July celebration at Regency Park, which was to feature the North Carolina State Symphony. People were running for cover, leaving behind their blankets and tarps, when the rains came.

Thursday, the town gathered up the soggy mess and put it in the parking lot to be claimed.

"We sort of live near here and we had left a tarp our there and it had rained, so we decided we'll get it in the morning," says Cary resident Emily Yarby. "We came down and it looks like someone beat us to it."

The pyrotechnics crew also showed up Thursday morning to see what could be salvaged. Richard Allen of Atlanta Pyrotechnics says rain is not usually a problem for fireworks because they are protected, but a rising lake is a whole different story. Lake Crabtree overflowed last night, ruining the fireworks.

"As far as this particular show goes, everything is a total wash," he says.

Last night, the town thought about setting another date for the fireworks display.

"It's a good thing that we didn't announce to the public that we were going to do it because we don't have anything to do. It's gone," Allen says.

A spokesperson from Cary's Parks and Recreation Department says town officials are working with the pyrotechnics company to reschedule the fireworks for later this summer, so you may get to see the show after all.

The fireworks will take place at the State Fairgrounds at 9:20 p.m. Thursday. Another show will take place at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill at 9:30 p.m.