Seaside Fireworks Again for Surf City

Waterfront fireworks displays are a staple of Fourth of July celebrations for many cities along Southern California’s coast, but Monday’s pyrotechnics extravaganza off Huntington Beach Pier will mark only the second such display in more than three decades for the town that calls itself “Surf City, USA.”

Huntington Beach eliminated waterfront fireworks in the early 1970s in an attempt to calm beach crowds, which had turned unruly over the years.

But a downtown redevelopment boom, which has transformed the area into a more family-oriented place, and stronger police presence during recent Fourth of July celebrations, have cut the number of disturbances, Huntington Beach officials said.

“We had a great family-friendly event last year, and we expect the same this year,” said Laurie Payne, a city spokeswoman.

Authorities estimate that more than 100,000 people will visit downtown and the 8.5-mile stretch of sand for the 9 p.m. fireworks.

A 24-minute display of fountain bursts, comets, spinners, waterfalls and floral star shells will cap celebrations that are to begin at 10 a.m. with the city’s 101st Fourth of July parade.

The city said it would close Pacific Coast Highway within the city limits four hours before the fireworks and for at least an hour afterward, turning it into a gigantic promenade.

Last year marked the return of the fireworks over the water off Huntington Beach.

The city had moved the display to a high school stadium from its longtime home near the pier in an effort to limit raucous beach crowds.

But even after the move, the city continued to experience occasional problems, including 500 arrests during the 1997 celebrations.

Huntington Beach has matured since, civic leaders say.

“It’s not like a college town anymore,” said Stephen Daniel, a merchant and president of the Downtown Business Assn.

Redevelopment has replaced many of downtown’s rundown 1920s beach houses with luxury residences and brought restaurants and retail shops to Main Street. Last year, merchants and residents successfully lobbied the city to bring fireworks back to the waterfront to celebrate Huntington Beach’s centennial Independence Day parade.

The festivities attracted about 150,000 people. There were fewer than 35 arrests, compared with 500 in 1997.

“We haven’t had problems on the Fourth of July in at least seven years,” said Police Lt. Craig Junginger. “It’s a different atmosphere now.”