Announcement of return to standard fireworks in 2023

On July 4 at 9 pm, Imperial Beach will showcase a traditional fireworks show by their pier — the dazzling kind of show that whizzes and bursts, sparkles, and smokes within the U.S./Mexico border airspace.

The 2023 Independence Day festivity will be much louder than last year's celebration in California's southernmost city. IB went with the quieter drone light show option for July 4 last year.

From 2022 drone show in Imperial Beach

YouTube

And while there's a mixed reaction online regarding the traditional fireworks versus drone animation light shows — via pet owners and folks with PTSD, and people who enjoy the loud Independence Day fireworks — rarely do the online posters speak of the expenditures of a firework show and the new drone light shows.

The local AllTimeFavorites.com website lists the approximate prices for fireworks display companies in early July leading to Independence Day. A minimum budget of $25,000 is required, and "most large displays are $1,000 to $1,500 per minute," and fireworks launched from water barges, as San Diego County cities have done in the past, can cost an additional $10,000 per barge.

2022 drone fireworks in IB

OBRag.org

Based on a 2019 July 4 celebration in IB, the fireworks lasted about nine minutes. At the prices above and the length of the show, the IB fireworks show would range from $19,000 to $23,500, launching the fireworks from a barge. And that's just for starters.

In 2022, on July 4, Imperial Beach reportedly contracted Verge Aero from Texas to fly 180 drones atop their airspace. And while no prices are listed on the drone-light-show company's site, Robotic Sand Automation News states to launch 200 drones for a light show, it'll cost about $99,000 for a "simple, recognizable logo and shape designs, best suited for small spaces." To increase the light show's detail and complexity, the company offers premium drones for more creative and custom 3D animations at a higher price.

From 2022 show

sportssd.iheart.com

While there are no prices listed on how much IB spent on the drone show last year and how much they will spend on the traditional fireworks show next week — the difference in price between the two styles of Independence Day light shows — per the above sources — is evident.

As cities around the U.S. look past the allure of silent drones and reverting to traditional fireworks to save a buck and appease the conventional July 4 crowd, the 2023 numbers might be on track with the upward growth curve per American Pyrotechnics Association. In 2022, display fireworks revenue in the U.S. reached $400 million (peaking in the chart spanning 22 years), compared to $262 million in 2021.

But some cities and companies are fusing the traditional July 4th fireworks with computer-operated drones in one show. Drone Studios, based in downtown San Diego offers the twofer light spectacle. "Let the drones and fireworks light up the sky together in a perfectly synchronized show," reads the company's website.

For traditional July 4 fireworks shows around the county, SanDiego.org has compiled a list of times and dates.

For folks who want to catch a drone show on July 4th, La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club and LUMINOSITY in Ocean Beach will host drone-light shows in their cities.