Lincoln City First on Oregon Coast to Ditch 4th of July Fireworks for Drone Shows

Published 05/19/25 at 7:15 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Lincoln City, Oregon) – The days of crackling, booming fireworks shows across the nation may be numbered. Or at least not every Fourth of July celebration will boast the explosions, that's for certain. (Photo Sky Elements)

Typically, the Oregon coast has been a kind of wild, wild west on the Fourth. In spite of personal fireworks being illegal on beaches – especially those that skyrocket – big fireworks shows in areas like Seaside, Lincoln City, Rockaway Beach or Newport have always created a kind of legal buffer zone for those with the big stuff from Washington. It was like hiding in plain sight.

However, a shift in thinking on a national level is transitioning larger mortar shows to quiet, pollution-free drone displays. Lincoln City's gigantic fireworks show has always been a stunner – but also a haven for folks with the high-flying pyrotechnics that are illegal in Oregon. It's those concerns and others that have Lincoln City to be the first on the coast to ditch the glare of rockets for drones, according to Explore Lincoln City's Kim Cooper Findling.

The 2025 edition of Lincoln City's Independence Day will be a light show – and an eye-popping one.

“The innovative display will light up the night sky over Siletz Bay with 200 synchronized drones, offering a dazzling, debris-free aerial display that’s gentler on people, pets, and the coastal ecosystem,” Findling said in a release.

Lincoln City’s shift to drone technology falls in line with its general commitment to environmental responsibility, public safety, and inclusive celebrations. While the city’s past fireworks displays adhered to regulations, they still introduced pollutants - such as plastic, gunpowder, and heavy metals like lead, copper, cadmium, and aluminum - into the air, waterways, and fragile ecosystems, including Siletz Bay, Salishan Spit, and the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge. These contaminants threaten wildlife, degrade soil and water quality, and pose risks to public health.

Photo Sky Elements

Beyond environmental concerns, city officials and residents have increasingly voiced apprehensions about fireworks’ impact on safety and law enforcement. Although professional displays remain permitted, local police point out that city-sponsored fireworks complicate enforcement of personal use bans. Such displays also hinder public education efforts aimed at minimizing fire hazards during Oregon’s dry season.

Indeed, Portland often bans all personal fireworks altogether most summers now, as do numerous other towns around the state.

Fourth of July in Lincoln City in the 2000s (Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

Explore Lincoln City also reminds the public all personal fireworks are banned in that town.

Photo Sky Elements

“Lincoln City is located where seven miles of sandy beach meet lush coastal forests, and where our community treasures both, along with all the wild creatures that inhabit our natural spaces,” said Findling, Director of Explore Lincoln City. “Replacing fireworks with the Oregon Coast’s very first drone show enables us to preserve Lincoln City’s natural beauty while supporting public safety and creating a celebration that’s more inclusive of everyone. It’s a new tradition we can all feel good about.”

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This year’s 15-minute drone show is presented by Sky Elements - a holder of seven Guinness World Records and the largest drone show provider in the U.S. The silent sky epic will feature 200 custom-programmed drones outfitted with vibrant LED lights. Unlike traditional fireworks, drone shows are quieter, making them a better option for wildlife, pets, and military veterans with PTSD. The drones create dynamic visual effects, choreographed to music, with animated shapes and stories unfolding in the night sky. Spectators can enjoy the display from Taft Waterfront Park along SW 51st Street, where the show will be highly visible. Most importantly, the drone show eliminates the release of toxic chemicals, producing no smoke, debris, or harmful residues in the surrounding bay, wildlife refuge, or residential areas.

Lincoln City’s Fourth of July celebration will also feature live music throughout the day, beginning at noon. The biggest event is at Taft, which even features a parking shuttle.

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