> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Sparks did fly when city nixed fireworks show - URL: https://www.smdp.com/sparks-did-fly-when-city-nixed-fireworks-show/ - Published: 2005-07-01T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T07:21:44.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import *City’s Fourth flameout a matter of control* *By SARA MILSTEIN Special to the Daily Press* CITYWIDE — Celebrating Independence Day in Santa Monica will not be in the form of traditional celebrations of fireworks or parades. For more than a decade, Santa Monica has lived without its traditional Fourth of July celebration. The acclaim Santa Monica once knew for its Independence Day bash ended when city officials decided that it was in the interest of city residents to curtail the celebrations. “A large number of people were drawn to the community, mostly non-community members,” said Judy Rambeau, a spokeswoman at Santa Monica City Hall. “It became more than the city could handle.” The crowds became unruly after hundreds of thousands of people would camp out at the beach, saving their prime fireworks viewing spots during the day. Crowd control became an issue for police. “By the time the fireworks came around at 9 p.m., everybody was already intoxicated,” said Santa Monica Police Lt. Alex Padilla. “It just got to be a little much.” Before the City Council’s “no firework” ordinance was passed, people from all over Southern California overwhelmed Santa Monica’s beaches, parks, sidewalks and pier to see the fireworks show. All manner of travel, including highways and walkways, became virtually impassable. People were forced to sit on car roofs and set up lawn chairs on Pacific Coast Highway to watch the sky light up. What was a spectator’s delight was the city’s nightmare. “It just got to be too many people,” commented Fred E. Basten, author of “Santa Monica Bay: Paradise by the Sea.” “PCH and Ocean Avenue became parking lots, and people got rowdy.” City Hall’s solution was the “Dawn’s Early Light” event held at the Santa Monica Pier, which featured live music of the patriotic stripe, as well as an early-morning fireworks show to bring in the new day. However, one essential Fourth of July ingredient was missing — Dawn’s Early Light proved anti-climactic due to its timing and Santa Monica’s characteristic weather conditions. “You couldn’t even see the fireworks because of the morning fog,” Basten added. For more than 20 years, the city of Santa Monica has helped support the fireworks show held at Santa Monica College. This year, fireworks can be seen from SMC’s Corsair Field on Saturday, July 2\. While the show was bound to be more subdued than the celebrations that preceded it, “it’s a really great show, and people are really happy with it,” Rambeau said. The celebration is one of a kind in Santa Monica, featuring a fireworks show and entertainment by Dixieland band Main Street and the rhythm-and-blues group JD Hall & the JD Hall Band. The festivities will be held at 16th Street and Pico Boulevard. Gates open at 5 p.m. and entertainment will start at 6 p.m. Fireworks, provided by Pyro Spectaculars, will light up the sky at dusk. Families are encouraged to attend and enjoy a night of the sights and sounds of patriotism Santa Monica-style. You can bring your own picnic dinner to accompany the show, or buy a meal from vendors on-site. Alcoholic beverages, glass containers, barbecues and fireworks of your own are prohibited. The event is free, though donations are welcome. Parking is $5\. For information, call (310) 434-3000. Padilla said SMPD will step up its enforcement this weekend, beginning Thursday night. There will be extra officers patrolling the city on motorcycles, police cars, bicycles, mounted horses and on foot — mostly near the beach and the downtown area. While city officials have heard no talk of resuming a grand fireworks show in Santa Monica, there are a number of fireworks shows in the Los Angeles area to attend on the Fourth of July. Fireworks can be seen at venues such as the Pasadena Rose Bowl, the Hollywood Bowl, Marina del Rey, and at Culver City High School (see box for details). Though Santa Monica has a history of constant change and progress, city residents appear to be accepting. “It was great fun at the time, but all good things come to an end,” Basten said. Rambeau suggested that perhaps more relevant than the food, fireworks and giant crowds is the commemorative spirit that the Fourth of July represents. “Go celebrate America — that’s really the biggest thing here,” she said. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 1, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/070105.pdf?ref=smdp.com)