No Bucks, No Bang: Cash-Strapped Towns Cancel Fireworks Shows

Ron Lander is a barber. But he's also a councilman in the Fresno County town of Coalinga, population 12,000. He's heard a lot from locals about plans to cancel this year's Fourth of July fireworks.

"That's what we signed up for," he sighs. "We have to make tough decisions at times."

Although many parts of California have rebounded from the Great Recession, parts of the Central Valley are still grappling with double-digit unemployment and shaky city finances. Lander figures Coalinga will save $15,000 without the fireworks show.

"[We're] talking about layoffs or fireworks," says Lander. "I think we want to be able to keep our people employed. Unfortunate situation, but that’s the way it had to be."

And that’s the way it has been on the Fourth of July for the past seven years in Stockton. But this year, as Stockton emerges from bankruptcy, there will be some sparkle in the sky again. The city and some private citizens, along with the local baseball team, are all pitching in, says city spokeswoman Connie Cochran.

"Citizens have sacrificed a lot over the last several years, and I think this is a perfect combination, because it’s a contribution by the local community, it’s everyone coming together to share resources and be able to have that tradition in our community once again," says Cochran.

During the height of the economic downturn, a number of California cities canceled their Fourth of July fireworks shows, including San Jose and Inglewood. Most of those cities have restored their Fourth of July traditions.

One prosperous California city is canceling its fireworks show this year, but not for budget reasons. City leaders in Cupertino say the football field where they usually hold the show requires too much water during the drought.