Tuesday, July 4, is Independence Day, an observed federal holiday. Most city offices will be closed. Emergency services including police and fire departments will be staffed as normal.
David Bauer / Contributed photo
Houston Chronicle
Peter Breen, Staff writer
Galveston Island will be celebrating Independence Day the traditional way after the disappointment of last year's drone light show, which was billed as an environmentally friendly alternative to fireworks.
Orchestrated by 200 drones from Dallas-based Sky Elements, the 2022 Fourth of July celebration was delayed for an hour due to technical difficulties. And while fireworks are visible from all directions at a distance up to 25 miles, a drown light show can be seen from just one angle up to three miles away, according to David Smith, executive director of special events in Galveston.
"We're going back to our normal fireworks display. We'll have about a 25-minute firework display at 37th and Seawall, and that is really due to a lot of outcry from the citizens who loved the traditional fireworks shows," Smith said. "With fireworks, it’s 3D. It doesn’t matter where—east, west, north, south—you’re looking at it. It’s all impressive."
Since the Fourth is on a Tuesday, Smith said the city expects a smaller crowd than last year, when the holiday fell on a Monday and about 100,000 people came out to island to celebrate.
However, fireworks are more dangerous than drones, and Smith said the city will be taking the appropriate safety precautions.
"We are concerned about the animals and the large bang," he said. "We have sent out, publicly, warnings to expect a 25-minutes [firework] show at 37th and Seawall for your dogs or animals and things like that. You want to take some precaution on that if they're fearful from a large noise."
Additionally, Smith said the Galveston Fire Department will need to cordon off a safety area around the firework launch site.
"We do have to back the crowds up a little bit," Smith said. "We have some rather large fireworks going off this year, so our circle is a little bit wider than has been in the past when they had firework shows in Galveston."
Although the city does check the beach for debris after its pyrotechnic shows, Smith said he wasn't too concerned about the celebration's environmental impact.
"The fireworks are shot off from a mortar, which is a cardboard fixture that is degradable," Smith said. "We do provide cleanup around the area after the event, but with fireworks, we don't have a whole lot to clean up."
On the beach near 37th Street and Seawall Boulevard, Galveston's fireworks show will begin at 9:15 p.m. on the Fourth, with the Gulf of Mexico serving as the backdrop.