Big Bang On The Bay Promoter Loses Appeal; Annual Long Beach Fireworks Show In Doubt

There will apparently be no big bangs or booms on Alamitos Bay in Long Beach this Fourth of July weekend.

The California Coastal Commission has upheld its cancellation of the annual Big Bang on the Bay fireworks show in Long Beach. At its April 15 meeting, the Commission denied an appeal by event promoter John Morris.

Morris, a local restaurateur, was trying to overturn a 2025 Coastal Commission decision to permanently cancel the fireworks due to concerns about the potential damage they cause environmentally, including noise and air pollution.

In its 2025 decision, the Commission allowed that year's fireworks display to proceed with the caveat that it would be the last year that the event could proceed with pyrotechnics.

Going forward, the show would have to proceed with drones, which the Commission said have been found to be less environmentally damaging.

Morris, however, said that due to the configuration of Alamitos Bay, a done display was not feasible logistically, and appealed the decision in January.

"I don't want to do drones," he told the Commission during Wednesday's hearing.

Several elected and public officials went to bat for Morris, including Long Beach Third District Councilmember Kristina Duggan and state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, who both requested that the Coastal Commission consider Moore's appeal.

"I respect and admire the Coastal Commission’s commitment to environmental protection, and we share that commitment locally," Duggan said. "However, we have not yet identified a viable path to transition to a drone show that would provide the same level of coastal access and community benefit."

Gonzalez explained further.

"The current permit condition requiring a drone show or similar alternative is not feasible under existing safety and regulatory constraints," she said. "The Long Beach Fire Department has determined that it cannot permit a drone show due to required safety perimeters, flight path restrictions and operational limitations."

The Commission was not swayed, however, and voted unanimously against the appeal.

With the appeal being rejected, the future of the Big Bay Boom event is in question after having been an annual attraction since 2011.

For the first dozen years, no permit was required, but the Commission began regulating such shows in 2023.