Future Of July 4 Debated By Healdsburg City Council, Weigh In With Your Ideas

HEALDSBURG, CA — Healdsburg could replace its Fourth of July fireworks with drones or lasers in 2027, but a proposed 400-drone show carries a $146,000 price tag before additional sound and event costs.

The alternatives occupied more than two hours of the City Council’s Monday evening meeting as members considered the future of the holiday celebration.

Safety, money, dogs, tradition, and noise sensitivity topped a list of pros and cons — and, why and why-nots — for how Healdsburg should celebrate July 4.

Fireworks used to be routine. Now cities are doing July 4 differently. Healdsburg is deciding what's next. Weigh in with your ideas using this survey.

What Changed

The American Legion’s Sotoyome Post 111 organized and funded the fireworks for years before asking the city to assume responsibility after the 2019 show.

The city first produced and funded the display in 2022 following pandemic cancellations and drought concerns.

Monday's fireworks discussion focused on the evening show within a broader holiday that traditionally includes the Kids Parade and Duck Dash in the Plaza and a Prune Packers baseball game.

Community Services Director Mark Themig outlined options for retaining fireworks, switching to drones or lasers, testing an alternative for one year, or researching other possibilities.

Drones

Sky Elements’ preliminary proposal prices a 300-drone July 4 show at $109,500, a 400-drone show at $146,000, and a 500-drone show at $182,500.

Staff reported that the company recommends at least 400 drones for three-dimensional effects comparable to the city’s fireworks display.

The date makes a substantial difference. The proposal prices the same 400-drone show at $100,000 on July 3 or July 5, and $50,000 on dates outside that holiday period.

Staff said drones could launch from Healdsburg High School’s synthetic turf while spectators watch from the natural grass field. A sound system would add to the cost.

The staff report estimates a drone show would last 12 to 15 minutes because of battery limits. Sky Elements recommends securing a July 4 commitment by the beginning of the year.

Nearby cities offer different examples of what a change could bring.

Napa switched from fireworks to drones in 2024 and paid $110,000 for its 400-drone show in 2026, according to Healdsburg’s report. Napa staff emphasized the importance of synchronized music and described difficulties delivering audio to spectators through cellular connections.

Lasers

Petaluma replaced fireworks with a laser show in 2022, then restored fireworks in 2023. Its recap found that the lasers failed to produce the intended visual impact for some neighborhoods and higher elevations, while spectators encountered confusion about viewing locations.

The recap also recorded appreciation from animal owners sensitive to noise, fewer public safety calls, and no reported injuries or fires.

Calistoga’s smaller laser show offered another cost comparison. Its 2026 accounting lists $12,473.50 for lasers and $5,000 for sound, with total evening light show expenses of $19,185.33 after staffing, supplies, and a county permit.

Why Change Now

The city’s 2026 fireworks cost analysis puts direct expenses at approximately $56,782, including the $40,000 fireworks contract, temporary fencing, traffic control, and an estimated value for restroom and waste services.

Estimated staffing costs bring the total to approximately $102,332.

Planning, staging, and cleaning up the event require 323.5 hours across 42 staff commitments, according to the analysis. Those commitments span different stages of the event and do not represent 42 separate employees.

Some staffing expenses would continue regardless of the celebration. Staff nevertheless described the hours devoted to fireworks as time unavailable for other priorities.

The city’s budget allocated $55,000 for the fireworks show’s direct costs, with staffing funded through departmental budgets.

Healdsburg’s review also reflects concerns about wildfire conditions, neighborhood traffic, noise, and pets.

Red flag warnings and dangerous regional conditions forced the city to cancel its 2024 fireworks. Although the vendor credited the following year’s show, the city could not recover some staffing and direct expenses.

Written comments submitted before the meeting showed competing views.

Mona Ashbaugh urged the council to consider alternatives, describing a dog that shakes for days before and after fireworks.

Janell O’Connor-Dericco opposed changing the show, describing family barbecues, swimming, and watching fireworks from the grass as part of the holiday tradition.

Susanne Esquivel supported keeping the display. “We love this tradition and enjoy watching them every year,” she wrote.

Cities have started celebrating July 4 differently with drones, lasers, fireworks, and sometimes nothing at all. Healdsburg is deciding what's next. Tell us what you think. (No names, emails, or other personal/identifying information will be collected or shared.)