As the City of South Pasadena prepares for America’s 249th birthday on Friday, a longtime tradition remains intact as the nighttime skies will be filled with fireworks, but at least one person in the community hopes it will be the last, replaced in the future with a festive, colorful drone show, already commonplace in some Southland cities.
With concerns about fireworks, namely environmental, fire safety – especially in light of the destruction of the Eaton Fire in Altadena and the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades back in January –coupled with the loud, booming noise level for pets, the local City Council took a hard look at the issue in April. After a lengthy discussion, which allowed the public to weigh in, including a large group of middle school students pushing for drones, the council voted 3-1 (one member absent) in keeping with the annual celebration of pyrotechnics.
The lone individual casting dissent was Councilmember Michael Cacciotti, who not only watches out for South Pasadenans but in addition a wide swath of residents throughout much of eastern San Gabriel Valley serving as the vice chair of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
It was Cacciotti who was at the forefront of South Pasadena going all-electric with its lawn and garden equipment in city parks and municipalities, earning prestigious American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) certification ten years ago, and most recently spearheaded the effort of the city’s police department becoming the first law enforcement agency to completely replace gasoline-powered vehicles with nonpolluting patrol cars.
Finishing the job of cleaning unhealthy smog and protecting the air in South Pasadena is an everyday mission for Cacciotti. He recognizes the council’s fireworks show decision came with a promise that it will be addressed well ahead of the city’s next Independence Day. Cacciotti likes the idea of plans to revisit a drone alternative in 2026.
“Let me just say that I love the Fourth of July in South Pasadena,” insisted Cacciotti, whose roots date back to 2001 when he first joined the council. “It’s just time for us to look for safer, cleaner options that don’t pollute the air, potentially start fires, and scare our dogs and cats with the blasts and noise.”
Fireworks have come under scrutiny in a number of Southland cities as they rethink the poor air quality they cause, risk of starting blazes and the impact on pets. Pasadena is among those when it will introduce its first ever-drone show on the Fourth at the Rose Bowl.
In South Pasadena, the daylong fun on Friday begins with a pancake breakfast, hosted by the Kiwanis Club, at the city’s fire station, 817 Mound Avenue, starting at 7 a.m., followed by the day’s opening ceremonies on the footsteps of the Library Community Room, 1115 El Centro Street, where community leaders will make remarks, a hometown Festival of Balloons Parade down Mission Street at 11 a.m., games, food and activities in Garfield Park up until 2:30 p.m., and fireworks at South Pasadena High, at the stadium (off Bank Street or Meridian Avenue), around 9 p.m.
Presale fireworks tickets are $15 per person and available at southpasadenaca.gov/events and $20 at the door. Children two and under are free. A 3.00 percent convenience fee (minimum $2.00 applies to all credit/debit card transactions. Attendees should bring a copy of their receipt and ticket for entry.
For those like Cacciotti, advocating for change, further discussion on the fireworks versus drone topic will be welcome dialogue during a future City Council meeting.
“I see it as a balancing act with a focus on responsibility,” he said. “We all want to celebrate the most important day in the country’s history, but let’s do it in a way we can respect our environment, the health and safety of our pets and residents, especially those who have respiratory conditions such as asthma.”
