Jersey City says its Fourth of July fireworks festival made a bit of money even with the last-minute location change due to New Jersey's government shutdown.

City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said the city saved $15,000 on expenses by moving the festival from Liberty State Park, which closed when state government shut down last Saturday over a budget impasse, to Exchange Place, and paid an additional $10,000 for overtime for city workers to set up new tents because of the location change.

The city made double its usual haul from carnival rides, $17,000, while paying about four thousand dollars more for two extra tents and more portable toilets needed when the festival changed locations, Morrill said. Costs for police protection remained the same, she said.

This year was the city's fourth all-day Independence Day festival, and it included a concert by hometown heroes Kool & the Gang. The first three events were at Liberty State Park but the park was shut down for three days starting Saturday because of a dispute between Gov. Chris Christie and some Democratic members of the state Legislature.

The shutdown ended by Tuesday but Jersey City had already made most of the plans to move the festival to Exchange Place. Morrill said the city will explore keeping the festival there next year, so people can picnic at Liberty State Park during the day and head to Exchange Place for fireworks at night.

"We think it is the best of both worlds and will never be hostage to any governor," she said.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.