Fourth of July fizzle: Cities canceling fireworks shows over COVID-19 risks

After shutting down beaches and emptying movie theaters, the coronavirus pandemic has begun claiming another summer standby: Fourth of July fireworks.

“It’s a bummer,” Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey said of the village’s decision to cancel its annual seaside fireworks display. “We all want to celebrate. ... But we have to be realistic.”

Davey and other municipal leaders say tamping down or outlawing crowds would be too daunting when it comes to fireworks shows that draw people by the thousands to parks and public spaces with clear views of the sky.

“It’s in the best interest of residents,” said Miami Shores Mayor Crystal Wagar, whose city also decided to skip fireworks in 2020. “Trying to maintain social-distancing protocols would prove extremely difficult.”

With 30 days needed to cancel many Fourth of July firework contracts, the coming days likely will see more cities cancel summer’s most venerable and popular tradition.

“I’ve got a few confirmed. Very few,” said Gary Avins, owner of Firepower Displays Unlimited in South Dade, one of the region’s busiest fireworks companies. He said that of the 60 shows he’s usually booked for Fourth of July across Florida and the Caribbean, only six have confirmed. “Everyone is having meetings, and saying, ‘Gary, what’s our deadline?’ ”

Two Avins clients that remain officially on the fence are Coral Gables and Miami, home to some of the largest fireworks displays in Miami-Dade. For Coral Gables, which typically packs the grounds of the city-owned Biltmore for its Fourth of July party, the decision is all but made to cancel the fireworks, Mayor Raúl Valdés-Fauli said.

“We are not having them this year for obvious reasons. It’s a pity,” he said. The decision is “not official yet, but is the unanimous recommendation of all,” including the city’s police and fire chiefs and health consultants. An event during a pandemic with “40,000 people sitting together is not wise.”

Watching fireworks at home, thanks to drones

Some cities say they aren’t ready to surrender their Fourth of July celebrations and plan to rearrange them around coronavirus prevention measures.

Miami Lakes expects to close parks the night of July 4 in order to discourage crowds, and may use drones to broadcast the show as an incentive for residents to watch from home.

”I think it’s important to provide people with hope, with an opportunity for optimism and an opportunity to put a smile on their face,” said Mayor Manny Cid. “What better [than] celebrating our independence and fireworks and telling people we will get past this, we will get past COVID-19.”

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, a top critic of Broward’s closure orders on beaches and gyms, said the coronavirus won’t be stopping fireworks in his city this summer.

He said details on changes to the holiday event will be released later. In Hialeah, City Council President Paul Hernandez described the city’s “wait and see” attitude toward fireworks even as he’s personally “leaning toward ‘no’ right now.”

In Hollywood, the city already gave up its contract for the barge needed for the traditional oceanside fireworks show. The carnival set-up on the Broadwalk, with face-painting and live music for dancing, is also scratched.

Commissioners have explored a smaller event with fireworks elsewhere in the city, but the COVID logistics will probably be too problematic for that contingency plan, too.

“It’s not looking likely because of the physical distancing rules,” city spokeswoman Joann Hussey said.

With Independence Day falling on a Saturday this year, demand from fireworks seekers is bound to be higher than it would be on a weekday. That makes the growing list of cancellations even more complicated for cities interested in sticking with their shows. Not only do they have residents to worry about when it comes to crowds, but also fireworks road trippers.

Will Miami Beach have Fourth of July fireworks?

In rural Homestead, budget concerns are also a factor. Mayor Steve Losner said any fireworks display this year would be more modest than usual and likely accompanied by restrictions to keep people from congregating in large open spaces. “Very likely would be a stay-in-your-car type viewing, if that’s feasible,” he said.

Bal Harbour this week officially canceled its fireworks show, Village Manager Jorge Gonzalez said. Miami and Miami Beach administrators said fireworks decisions are coming soon.

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said a cancellation is “likely” but that he wouldn’t be opposed to the show going on if the city came up with a plan to keep spectators appropriately distanced. “We don’t want to inspire a crowd,” he said.

At Firepower Displays, Avins said the company is starting to see renewed interest in the fall from corporate events and weddings that canceled private shows in the spring.

Citing conversations with pyrotechnic providers around the country, Avins said the tail end of summer could see a fireworks comeback as the coronavirus situation improves.

“Labor Day is going to be the new Fourth of July this year,” he said.

Miami Herald staff writers Joey Flechas and Martin Vassolo contributed to this report.