The economy is taking the pop out of fireworks shows in small and midsize American cities, where many Fourth of July events are being canceled or scaled back.

Montana communities have mostly kept their fireworks shows popping, but there are exceptions. In Great Falls, where the municipal government bankrolled the July 4 production for 14 years, budget problems last year forced the city to eliminate its $15,000 fireworks fund. Until a local auto dealer intervened, this year's show wasn't happening. The community is now taking donations to keep fireworks in its future.

In Whitefish, donations for the annual City Beach fireworks show were down this year. Jim Trout of the group Whitefish Shines said organizers had to tap reserve funding to make up the donation shortfall.

The issue isn't just fireworks, Trout said. Whitefish Shines' main event is a community Christmas celebration, for which the group is concerned about raising money this year. Times are tough in Flathead County, where the unemployment rate in May was 9.7 percent.

"What I'm hearing from other organizations is that donations are down across the board for everyone," Trout said.

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.

Pyrotechnicians in the state say they've seen some softening in demand, but where some groups cut back, others are ramped up.

"Our Montana economy, when we're booming we don't do as good, but when we're not, we don't do as bad. The size of the shows is consistent," said Todd Reichenbach of Pyro F/X in Billings.

Pyro F/X does about 40 shows a year, Reichenbach said. City shows this year are about the same. He'll be doing shows in Red Lodge, Lewistown and at Castle Rock Park in Billings this holiday. He has seen some softening in the demand for private corporate shows.

Jay Paulsen said business is good at Big Sky Fireworks, his pyrotechnics company in White Sulphur Springs. One of his sporting event contracts was cut back, but he's also picked up more shows and seen some communities expand displays. Big Sky Fireworks does more than 100 shows a year.

Within The Gazette's circulation area, fireworks shows were ample, with more than two dozen taking place Saturday from Sidney to Big Sky and several more in the days leading up to the holiday.

Stephen Vitale, president of Pennsylvania-based Pyro-tecnico, 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.

"I think many people would say, 'How do you do a Fourth of July celebration without fireworks?' " said Chief Executive Doug Taylor of Zambelli Fireworks Internationale.