JAFFREY -- The Annual Jaffrey Festival of Fireworks that draws tens of thousands of people to the town every August has been canceled after authorities received a bomb threat in a letter.

The festival was planned to take place on Saturday.

Jaffrey police, the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce and the Keene Sentinel received the threatening letter on Thursday.

“In those communications, the author indicated a direct threat of violent action that would take place at or near the local airport where the Annual Jaffrey Festival of Fireworks is scheduled to take place this Saturday, August 18th.

An investigation was begun immediately. Due to the nature of this threat, I have sought assistance from local, county, state and federal agencies,” Police Chief William Oswalt said in a press release.

“This is being investigated as a bomb threat directed at the people attending the fireworks show with the apparent motive of causing disruption of the event and an adverse impact on the Town of Jaffrey,” he wrote.

The annual fireworks festival has been a fundraising event for the chamber of commerce for many years and has traditionally taken place at the Silver Ranch Airpark in town. Atlas PyroVision Productions of Jaffrey puts on the fireworks show.

That investigation is being led by the Jaffrey police with assistance from the NH Attorney General’s office, the U. S. Attorney, NH State Police as well as agents from the FBI, ATF and the Postal Inspector’s office.

Police are asking anyone that might have information relevant to the investigation to contact police at 532‐7865 or at www.townofjaffrey/police.