New San Diego City Council president Joe LaCava is backing the growing effort by some to curb SeaWorld’s continuing use of traditional fireworks.

“The fireworks over Mission Bay night after night must come to an end,” said LaCava in a recent statement. “Massive explosions 150 nights a year impose too great an impact on residents and the environment, and the influx of complaints from residents to my office is proof of that.

“I will work with City departments and SeaWorld to see how we can limit the fireworks shows. We can retain celebrations while protecting the community and unique environment of Mission Bay and its surrounds.”

Momentum has been building for years, especially among environmentalists and pet owners, who’ve called upon the 60-year-old marine mammal park to curtail or eliminate its fireworks displays. Opponents allege pyrotechnics pollute the surrounding bay environment and harm animals and veterans with PTSD, both being sensitive to loud pyrotechnic displays.

Some contend SeaWorld ought to be joining the growing movement worldwide to transition from fireworks displays to drone light shows, as was done recently in Ocean Beach on July 4, 2023. Traditional fireworks displays typically cost between $10,000 and $20,000 per show, while drone light shows, still in their infancy, presently average around $100,000.

SeaWorld has defended its seasonal fireworks displays as being heavily scrutinized as well as a major attraction of its regular programming. “SeaWorld’s fireworks displays are monitored and regulated by multiple government agencies including the City of San Diego, California Coastal Commission, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” said SeaWorld spokesperson Tracy Spahr. “At SeaWorld, we continually work to enhance our entertainment and educational experiences, always exploring new, returning, and alternative opportunities for our guests to enjoy during their visits to the park.”

Sam Bruggema, show producer for Pyro Spectaculars by Souza in the company’s San Diego office, which handles most of the county’s fireworks other than SeaWorld’s, disputed claims of environmental degradation from short infrequent fireworks displays labeling that claim as unfounded. “Even multiple 7- to 8-minute shows do not have a major effect on animals and the environment,” Bruggema argued adding, “Nobody’s produced any proof.”

As to the future of drone shows as a fireworks alternative, Bruggema said: “They will never be a replacement for fireworks, which are an American tradition with the noise and lights. Drones don’t evoke emotions like fireworks do.”

Why choose between fireworks and drones when you can have both, contends Bruggema. “It’s already in place, public fireworks and drones together,” he said. “It’s being done all over the world, not just over the United States. It’s coming to us soon.”

What of SeaWorld’s fireworks? “They might need to be adjusted, but I don’t think they should be eliminated,” concluded Bruggema. “I think there’s a happy medium where the two can come together and you can have both. It doesn’t make sense that only fireworks should be ruled out. SeaWorld is in the business of entertainment, they have an entertainment license, and they have a right to entertain their audiences who pay their ticket prices.”

At the end of 2024, a nine-member mayor’s advisory group, the Mission Bay Parks Committee, voted unanimously to draft a letter to city and state officials urging SeaWorld to modify or cancel fireworks altogether because of their impact on native Mission Bay wildlife.

Conservationists agreed. “We support the park committee’s emphasis on improving the management of Mission Bay by removing these disturbances that affect and harm wildlife,” said Andrew Meyer, director of conservation for San Diego Bird Alliance. “There are so many reasons to not have fireworks shows. They’re being replaced by drone shows anyway that have less water quality, PTSD, and wildlife impacts.”

San Diego Humane Society concurred with both viewpoints. “Fireworks create loud explosions and bright flashes that can be terrifying for animals,” said Nina Thompson, SDHS director of public relations. “Wildlife also suffers, with birds and other animals being disoriented and injured by the sudden noise and light. In contrast, drone light shows provide a stunning visual experience without the noise and disruption that fireworks cause. Drone shows also eliminate the risk of burns, wildfires, and pollution from debris, making them a sustainable option for future generations.”

FIREWORKS VERSUS DRONES

With increasing demand for safer, quieter, and more eco-friendly fireworks alternatives, integrated drone and fireworks shows are growing in popularity. While traditional fireworks remain a cultural staple, the appeal of integrating them in shows with drones likely represents the future of celebration entertainment. At a hybrid show, drones are equipped with LED lights or pyrotechnic devices to create synchronized aerial displays that enhance the fireworks. The drones follow precise flight patterns, adding stunning visual effects and choreography to the overall performance.

Drones offer many benefits, including safety, environmental friendliness, and creative flexibility. Drone fireworks operate with minimal sound. However, if pyrotechnic devices are attached to the drones, they can create the traditional loud bursts associated with fireworks. This allows for a combination of quieter aerial displays and the classic noise of fireworks.