Falls Church Ends 4th Of July Fireworks, Seeks Other Ways To Celebrate

FALLS CHURCH, VA — The City of Falls Church has ended its annual Independence Day fireworks celebration and is asking city residents for ideas on other ways to celebrate the holiday.

The city’s Recreation and Parks Department has opened an online survey for city residents to chime in on what would make for the perfect 4th of July celebration in Falls Church.

“Sadly, the City is no longer able to offer a fireworks display for 4th of July due to required safety guidelines,” the city said in a tweet Tuesday. “Please take this quick survey so we can hear from you on how you’d like to see Independence Day celebrated.”

The Falls Church Recreation and Parks Department traditionally held the fireworks show at George Mason High School, now called Meridian High School. The last fireworks show was held in July 2019 at the high school before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The layout of Meridian High School’s new campus, which opened in January 2021, makes it unsafe to host the Independence Day fireworks, according to the fire marshal, who inspected the campus.

“Recreation and Parks has a very creative team, and they will surely create a wonderful, family-friendly event or series of events to celebrate the holiday,” city spokeswoman Susan Finarelli said in an email to Patch.

The city’s Recreation and Parks Department survey asks residents whether they would prefer a daytime or nighttime celebration on Independence Day. They also ask residents what their “dream Independence Day” even hosted by the city would include.

Visit an online survey form set up by the city to give the Recreation and Parks Department ideas on new ways to celebrate the 4th of July.