Fireworks Return to Lincoln City, But Major Changes As It Focuses on Oregon Coast Wildlife

Published 04/29/26 at 9:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Lincoln City, Oregon) - Fireworks are back at Lincoln City this year – but there's a lot that's different. For one, the fireworks display has been moved to Devils Lake just slightly inland from the beach. There's still a ton of events during the day in and around the beach at Taft, but now the focus is on being a little more wildlife friendly. Photo - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

In fact, it's partially about wildlife.

The slightly reworked event, titled Stars, Stripes and Wildlife, takes place July 4, 2026.

These famed Oregon coast festivities begin at noon in the Taft District with live music, a food truck, a beer garden, giveaways, and local partners sharing information about Siletz Bay wildlife and the natural environment of the bay, beach, and ocean.

Live music will run from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Taft Pavilion at the west end of SW 51st Street. The event is family-friendly and free to attend. Organizers say band details will be announced soon.

Parking will be available throughout the Taft District’s public lots, with additional parking at Taft High School beginning at 11 a.m. A shuttle will operate between the high school and the event site until 6 p.m. Officials caution that the area typically becomes extremely busy during the holiday weekend and urge visitors to plan ahead and use caution.

After the daytime festivities conclude, spectators are encouraged to head north to Nelscott for a clear view of the fireworks over Devils Lake.

Getting to the Fireworks

Kevin Mattias, a spokesman for Lincoln City's administrative offices, said you'll want to head out of Taft and farther into Nelscott.

“With parking being very limited at Regatta Park, we will be offering a shuttle service from the Lincoln City Community Center to the park,” he told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. “The City also feels that this location will provide a better opportunity for people to see the fireworks at different sites around town. The fireworks will be launched about 800 feet up into the air. So being down in the Taft neighborhood would not be a good location to see the show. You will want to move closer to Devils Lake to have better chance of seeing the fireworks.”

Why Were Lincoln City Fireworks Moved?

Explore Lincoln City said that last year the city hosted the Oregon coast’s first drone show in place of fireworks over Siletz Bay. The shift followed growing community concerns about environmental and wildlife impacts at the sensitive estuary, which lies within 1,000 feet of the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Public safety, fire risk, and the effects on pets and veterans were also factors.

This year, the city opted to move all nighttime activities away from the estuary. A professional fireworks display will take place over Devils Lake on the night of July 4.

Salishan Spit, the traditional launch site, is a protected area managed by Oregon Parks and Recreation and sits adjacent to the wildlife refuge. Officials say the site has raised increasing concerns due to its resident harbor seal population, nesting birds - including the federally protected Western Snowy Plover - and its vulnerability to erosion. Heavy equipment required for fireworks shows can worsen that erosion.

Siletz Bay - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

“Fireworks impact air quality, waterways, soil, human health, and of course, wildlife,” the agency said.

City officials say relocating the fireworks show benefits Siletz Bay, Salishan Spit, the Siletz Bay Wildlife Refuge, the Pacific Ocean, Taft Beach, and the many species that depend on these habitats.

Established in 1991 with a donation of 46 acres of tidal salt marsh, Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge was created to protect and restore estuarine fish and wildlife habitats. The refuge has since expanded to 578 acres and now includes salt and brackish marsh, tidal sloughs, mudflats, and both coniferous and deciduous forest.

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