Fourth of July in California: Cancellations due to ICE fears, and where celebrations will still take place

It will be an Independence Day marked with fear. Although the Fourth of July is just around the corner, many people in California will not be celebrating due to the threat of arrests and deportations that have been taking place for months and continue under the Trump administration’s new immigration policy. Cities have canceled traditional celebrations to avoid putting their residents at risk, demonstrating the level of fear that exists among both citizens and local officials.

In addition, this July 4 will bring other changes in California. Some localities will forego fireworks due to their environmental impact and the risk of repeating the tragedies that occurred earlier this year with the forest fires that devastated various areas. Instead, there will be light shows with drones, which could be part of the new normal for the future.

Here are all the key details of this year’s Fourth of July celebrations:

Fear of ICE

Fear has taken hold in Los Angeles. Ahead of the Fourth of July celebrations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stepped up its operations in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. The presence of agents in parking lots, residential streets, and food stalls has sparked a climate of fear that has forced the cancellation of Independence Day celebrations.

There is no respite, not even for celebrations. Unlike other years, several localities in Los Angeles County have chosen to cancel or postpone their traditional patriotic celebrations. This is not due to logistical or budgetary problems, but rather a decision motivated by fear.

One of the most symbolic cases is the parade in El Sereno, a historically Latino neighborhood on the east side of the city, which this year would have celebrated the 66th edition of its traditional Independence Day parade.

“This year we will have to cancel our celebrations. We stand with our community. The safety of our participants, spectators, and volunteers is always at the forefront. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused,” the Bicentennial Committee said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

Other communities responded right away, with a series of cancellations clearing out the county’s event schedule:

• Cudahy announced the postponement of its Independence Day celebration, with no new date set.
• Bell Gardens canceled all municipal activities, including its Fourth of July celebration.
• Huntington Park suspended its patriotic celebrations and postponed other community events for the coming weeks.
• In Whittier, the traditional Freedom Walk was canceled, although the fireworks display planned for York Field will go ahead.
• At Gloria Molina Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles, the popular Summer Block Party was postponed.
• The Los Angeles County Parks Department canceled the “Rockin’ Fourth of July” event.
• In Rowland Heights, the Summer Movies & Concerts series at Peter F. Schabarum Regional Park has also been postponed.

Other cancellations

Other factors have influenced the cancellation of Fourth of July events. Such is the case with Santa Monica’s official fireworks display, which has been canceled due to lack of funds. At the Board of Trustees meeting, Superintendent Kathryn E. Jeffery said that the partners who usually help fund the event have withdrawn. And Santa Monica College cannot use its general fund for the fireworks display because it is a “non-educational event.”

Goodbye fireworks?

On the other hand, cities such as Pasadena will make a significant change: for the first time in more than 20 years, there will be no fireworks. Instead, they will hold a drone show to honor wildfire victims and reduce risks of more wildfires.

The city was one of the hardest hit by the Eaton Fire in January of this year. At a press conference, Lisa Derderian, spokesperson for the city, said that this change will be “better for the environment, air quality, and noise. It’s something new and exciting.” She also noted that it doesn’t take much for mountain vegetation to burn. “A sparkler that can reach 1,200 degrees or a fire that goes astray” can be enough. Similarly, all types of fireworks have been banned, including those considered less dangerous.

For its part, Long Beach will hold its last fireworks display this year due to similar environmental concerns and will also switch to a drone show, which is expected to be replicated in other cities in the coming years.

In the case of Orange County, it has been designated a high fire risk area, so security personnel will be deployed to ensure that no one holds private fireworks displays.

Where will there be Fourth of July celebrations?

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has a list of all the cities in California where there will be fireworks on the Fourth of July. While cities such as Lakewood and Lomita held events on June 28, most will launch fireworks from the evening of Thursday, July 3, through Saturday, July 5. All fireworks displays begin around 9.00 pm.

Southern California will offer a wide range of celebrations, from traditional fireworks to modern drone shows. In Woodland Hills, Warner Center Park will host a free concert and a 20-minute fireworks display, while Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain will close out the evening with fireworks shows.

Families in Claremont, Gardena, Marina del Rey, South Pasadena, and Long Beach will also be able to view fireworks at various parks and coastal areas. The Queen Mary will offer fireworks on deck and a retro celebration, while the Hollywood Bowl and Hollywood Forever will combine live performances and movies with nighttime fireworks. Dodger Stadium will close its baseball game with fireworks, and Disneyland promises a patriotic finale after 9.30 p.m.

As mentioned, the Rose Bowl and Pacific Palisades will replace fireworks with drone light shows due to concerns about wildfires, with events that will include food festivals and music. Huntington Beach will continue with its iconic fireworks display on the waterfront, which attracts more than half a million spectators, while Knott’s Berry Farm will offer fun at the theme park, culminating in fireworks.

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