Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson Friday decried a decision by the California Coastal Commission barring the annual Big Bang on the Bay fireworks show over Alamitos Bay, calling the move “difficult to understand.”
The commission on Wednesday declined to approve plans for the annual fireworks show, despite an appeal by event organizer and businessman John Morris. With no fireworks show, the annual event — which traditionally draws thousands of people to the area to celebrate the Fourth of July — is effectively scrubbed this year.
“For years, Big Bang on the Bay event has brought our community together and supported local nonprofits, with no documented harm to coastal resources,” Richardson wrote on X Friday afternoon. “This decision by the California Coastal Commission to block fireworks is difficult to understand and feels out of touch. It leaves no practical options for 2026, effectively canceling a long-standing tradition.
“It also risks increasing illegal fireworks activity by removing a safe, organized alternative,” he wrote. “The inconsistency is hard to ignore. Fireworks continue elsewhere along the coast, including at SeaWorld, while Long Beach is told no. We will continue advocating for Big Bang on the Bay.”
According to the Long Beach Post, the Coastal Commission has been pushing Morris to transition away from fireworks in favor of a drone show, deeming it more environmentally friendly. Commission staff cited possible problems with pollution in the bay caused by the fireworks, as well as disruption of herons and egrets nesting nearby, the paper reported.
One member of the commission noted during this week’s meeting that Morris had been informed last year that 2025 would be the last year fireworks were going to be permitted, so the decision should not come as a surprise, according to the Post.
Morris told the paper he met with city officials, commission staff, and drone-show companies about making a change, but determined such a show wasn’t feasible. He also said “more than 50%” of his donors would not accept the idea of a drone show, which he estimated would cost $140,000 more than fireworks.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office posted on X Friday that “This is not a decision the governor made. Our office is looking into this matter on behalf of the people of Long Beach.”
The governor’s office also noted that “the vendor agreed last year that the show would move from a fireworks show to a drone show.” But the office reiterated it was researching the matter, particularly since this year marks the nation’s 250th birthday.