FIREWORKS TO LIGHT UP FORTUNA SKIES
Local vendors see increased sales for home shows
Expect fireworks in Fortuna on Friday night to celebrate the Fourth of July, though the show will take place at an undisclosed location in order to promote social-distancing measures.
The fireworks will be launched high into the air so residents can see them from their homes and vehicles. In an announcement, the city made clear that ongoing COVID-19 pandemic “doesn’t mean we can’t light up the night sky!”
The same is not true in Eureka. Organizers canceled the Fourth of July festival and accompanying fireworks in May and don’t plan to try anything similar to their Eel River Valley counterparts.
“There is no ability to properly social-distance the fireworks over the bay, believe me!” said Eureka Main Street director Charlotte McDonald.
“The waterfront, the library, that whole area — trying to social-distance the fireworks
(there) would be trying to tell people that the beaches in Santa Cruz are closed and you can’t go on them,” McDonald said. “They’re still going to go on them.”
In the absence of northern Humboldt County festivities, independent fireworks sellers have noted a steady increase in shoppers from previous years. A local vendor owns the “TNT Fireworks” stands around Arcata,
each of which contributes proceeds to a different charitable cause.
“It was a big first day,” said Mike Pilatti, who sells fireworks near Wildberries Marketplace in Arcata. “If people are not going to be able to go out and watch a show, then I imagine they’re looking for other options.”
Pilatti’s stand is contributing proceeds to Humboldt CASA, which supports foster children.
Down by Safeway on F Street, another TNT stand is putting funds toward child autism support services. Brandon Ray, the seller at that stand, said sales this year have been better than last.
The products sold around town are legal. When ignited, the shooters swirl across the ground, fitting for a backyard or driveway celebration. Aerial fire
works and bottle rockets are forbidden by law; the local fire marshal comes by each year to sign off on local booths.
For the sake of Fourth of July celebrators, Ray said he’s glad the show will go on down south.
“Usually, Fortuna doesn’t have the fog, so that should be OK,” Ray said. “In Eureka, it would just be colored fog if you tried to shoot them really high.”