Boulder Ditches Fireworks For July 4 Due To ‘Climate Change’

The city of Boulder, Colorado has announced that they will not be using fireworks for their July 4 celebration, and will be using drones instead.

Along with @WKRE and @CUBoulder, we're excited to announce a whole new experience for Boulder's 2023 4th of July celebration!

Join us at Folsom Field to experience Boulder's first drone show in place of traditional fireworks

More info at https://t.co/DCdZMsKPDX pic.twitter.com/LtavIJzXCO

— City of Boulder (@bouldercolorado) June 26, 2023

Boulder Ditches Fireworks Because ‘Climate Change’

“The shift from traditional fireworks to drones was not an easy decision and based on a number of factors, including increased fire danger fueled by climate change,” city officials said in a statement obtained by The Denver Gazette.

The drone show will be taking place at 9:35pm on Folsom Field, where gates are set to open at 7pm. The event, which is free to get into, will have live music by School of Rock, Funkiphino and The Custom Shop-Band. Food trucks and concession stands will also be on hand selling food and drinks.

Known as Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast, this July 4 event has been held each year since 1941, with it only being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fireworks have been launched at every one of these celebrations, until now.

Find out more about this in the video below.

Vail Using Drones Instead Of Fireworks

CPR News reported that large firecrackers, rockets and cherry bombs have been banned in the state of Colorado since 2012, but they can be used for professional and public displays. Jeremy Gross, special event coordinator for the city of Vail, revealed last year that his city was switching from fireworks to drones for their Fourth of July celebration.

“I will have a place in my heart for fireworks, but I think there will be other times of the year where we’ll still be able to shoot fireworks in a much safer way,” he stated.

Gross went on to explain that the drones would be programmed to make shapes in the sky that included the letters U.S.A and the Statue of Liberty.

“It’s basically unlimited what you can do,” Gross said. “You can put an eagle in the sky and the eagle actually flaps its wings. You can have an Old Glory flag flap and wave.”

Vail spent $100,000 on this drone show, which is about three times what it would typically spend on firework shows, but Gross had no regrets.

“It does take a commitment from the communities that are making this change to step up to the plate and spend that money to reduce the risk and provide a new and creative experience,” he said.

Watch two other California towns make this switch in the video below.

California City Using Drones As Well

Colorado isn’t the only state that is making this change. NBC reported that La Jolla, California is set to have 100 drones perform a fifteen minute show starting at 8:45pm on the night of July 4.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Drone Studios to bring an unforgettable Independence Day experience to the La Jolla Shores community,” said William J. Kellogg, president of the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. “In addition to acknowledging Jeff Stein, founder and CEO of Drone Studios, we would also like to thank club member Jack McGroy for his significant financial contribution, as well as the La Jolla Town Foundation, which has supported past fireworks displays and helped make this drone display come to life.”

Fireworks have been a staple of Fourth of July celebrations for hundreds of years, so it’s unfortunate that they’re becoming the latest piece of American culture to be targeted for cancellation. We can only hope that readers will choose to show their support to the firework shows in their communities, should they be available, rather than the woke drone shows.

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