Organizers of the recent “Fourth at the Fountain” are already eyeing a longer fireworks display, more food trucks and additional children’s activities for next year.

A priority will be to find a $10,000 sponsor to expand the fireworks display from 20 to 30 minutes.

Mayor Linda Kavanagh, town employees and major fundraiser Phyliss Kern recently met to assess the event and consider expanding festivities in 2017.

Kavanagh said when she first thought about changing the format of the community Independence Day celebration, she envisioned an old-fashioned, family-friendly event without alcohol in Fountain Park.

“I was not disappointed. It was even better than I had expected,” said Kavanagh.

She praised the town staff for an outstanding job and creating an event model for “years to come, an event that I want to remain free and family-friendly.”

Crowd estimates range from 8,500 to 15,000 in the park, along the Avenue of the Fountains and on patios of nearby restaurants. Two vendors reported running out of food.

The number of families attending “far surpassed all previous fireworks,” said the mayor.

“Families came early and set up blankets, enjoying their picnic food and playing football and Frisbee in the grass,” said Kavanagh.

Others preferred eating at one of the nearby restaurants or buying food from the food trucks, she noted.

“It was the perfect set-up for any family budget,” she said.

For a $10,000 donation, a sponsor will have the back page of the community activity guide, “In the Loop” for advertising, inclusion in advertisements involving the event and a large display banner at the festivities.

In addition to a longer fireworks display, Kern said the planners want to add food vendors to expand the offerings and additional children’s activities.