The City of Long Beach celebrated its own 100th birthday with fanfare in 2022, so it wasn’t about to let America’s 250th birthday be any less exciting. On July 10, the city presented its annual fireworks display on the beach.
The planning began in April, when the City Council rehired the Pennsylvania-based Starfire Corporation, which has staged the fireworks show in previous years. This year the council voted to increase the show’s funding, to $62,000 from $44,000 last year. The setup was conducted by a multi-person team including an executive producer, who oversaw the event; a project manager, who coordinated personnel; a safety and compliance manager, who monitored the setup and discharge of the explosives; and specialized technicians who operated the equipment.
The show was scheduled to start at around 9:15 p.m., and organizers promised that it would be visible from anywhere along the boardwalk or shore. The barge containing the pyrotechnics was stationed off Edwards Boulevard beach, and the sand was crowded the entire length of the boardwalk.
Residents Anthony Gach and Joseph Lee positioned themselves on a boardwalk bench at Edwards Boulevard. “We came down around 6, 6:30,” Gach said. “The closer you are to it, the better it is. I can see them from my house in the Canals, but it’s not like being here.”
Once the sky darkened, the display began, right on cue, at 9:15. For nearly 20 minutes, close to 8,000 fireworks lit up the sky 1,000 feet in the air. After what looked like a conclusion, a brief encore continued for a few extra minutes before the darkness returned and the echoes of explosions faded. As the crowd packed the boardwalk ramps, moving toward the street exits, special officers from the Police Department directed traffic to ensure everyone’s safety.
“It’s a nice night,” Lee said. “A very nice crowd, no problems. The evening was very pleasant and impressive. The show was very nicely done.”