Juneau readies for annual Fourth of July midnight fireworks

With just ten days to go, Juneau is ready for this year’s Fourth of July celebrations—including the popular fireworks show.  As always, the show will begin at 11:59 p.m. on July 3rd and will last approximately 22 minutes. This longstanding tradition dates back to Juneau’s mining heyday, when July 4th was one of just two holidays at the mines (AJ, Treadwell, Thane)—with the early start date allowing miners to join in the after-dark celebrations ahead of their holiday.

For those of you enjoying the incomparable view of the show from a boat in Gastineau Channel, please be mindful of the 900 foot radius safety zone to be maintained around the fireworks barge from 10 p.m. until after the show ends, at approximately 12:30 a.m.  As you may recall, last year’s show was interrupted by a small vessel traveling slowly through the fallout zone, where it could easily have been hit by burning debris if shooting had not been put on hold.

The fireworks display is operated by the Juneau Fireworks Crew, a group of talented licensed pyrotechnic specialists. The core members are State-certified professional pyrotechnic operators and assistants and adhere to rigorous safety standards. These experts spend thousands of hours of volunteer time obtaining all state, federal, and local permits, designing, preparing, and executing the show.

“Juneau’s Fourth of July celebrations are uniquely special, and our midnight fireworks are one of the high points,” said Mayor Beth Weldon. “It’s thanks to the expertise and dedication of our professional crew that the show remains a landmark event that so many residents look forward to all summer, and that it’s safely carried out every year.”

The fireworks show is truly a community event, brought to through the efforts of community businesses and volunteers.  This year’s show is made possible thanks to generous donations and efforts from AMAK Towing, Alaska Marine Lines, DIPAC, Trucano Construction Co, Alaska Concrete Casting, AggPro, Breeze In, A-1 Hearth & Stone, Nugget Alaskan Outfitters (NAO), Dahlberg Design, Bluhm Services, and Pyramid Abatement.

Stay tuned for more information from CBJ and JPD about July 4th events, including service interruptions and street closures to support the events.