PTA secretary Lisa Taylor told a community board meeting on Wednesday night that for children, waiting for darkness in November meant a long day.
Also, moving the celebration forward meant missing the short period during which fireworks were sold, meaning event-goers of Waitati's event would not arrive with their own fireworks.
Fireworks can be sold only for four days before Guy Fawkes Night, on November 5.
The September 18 display, at Waitati School, was an "experiment" in terms of the date, Ms Taylor said.
The Lotteries Commission has granted the PTA $5000 for the event.
The display was well loved, but had not been held for the past three years for lack of funding.
Community board chairman Alasdair Morrison said he had attended the "marvellous" event for 25 years.
The event was essential in a community that was not as cohesive now many people worked in Dunedin and enrolled their children in city schools, Mr Morrison said.
The PTA had sought $1000. The event will be free for the public.
The ability of a "split" community to raise funds for a new library was also raised at Wednesday's meeting.
Board member Nancy Higgins, addressing Dunedin City Council library services manager Bernie Hawke and Blueskin Bay Library librarian Louise Booth, said Waitati appeared divided by the decision to demolish the library to make way for its replacement, rather than building an extension.
Ms Higgins and deputy chairwoman Geraldine Tait both oppose demolition, which was approved last month by the board. A petition taking issue with the plan attracted 80 signatures.
"How will it affect fundraising if the community is split?" Ms Higgins asked.
Mr Hawke said the council sent letters explaining the project to more than 60 people who signed the petition, and had received no follow-up questions in response.
The community needs to raise about $250,000. The council is contributing $500,000, and $50,000 will come from existing funds.
Mr Hawke and Ms Booth were attending the meeting to present the library's quarterly report.
The board was urged to comment on Dunedin's digital strategy, by Cr Dave Cull, who chairs the council's digital strategy steering group. The strategy, which aims to provide citywide wireless internet, was just as important for Dunedin's outlying areas, Cr Cull said. Submissions close today but the board could submit something brief to expand at the hearing, which starts on July 26, Cr Cull said.
Asked about the cost of providing wireless internet to rural areas, Cr Cull said partnerships with private providers were likely.
