Big Bear Fireworks and Jackie & Shadow

The show is organized by Visit Big Bear (BigBear.com). Visit Big Bear is funded through the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) that promotes tourism in Big Bear Valley.

about the Big Bear 4th of July Fireworks

Each year, Big Bear Lake hosts a professional fireworks display over the lake on the Fourth of July. The show lasts approximately 25-30 minutes and is launched from a barge positioned on the water.

The fireworks are synchronized to music and can be viewed from numerous locations around the lake, including parks, marinas, lakeside lodging, restaurants, boats, and public shoreline areas. The event is free to watch and is one of the busiest tourism days of the year in Big Bear.

The Petition to Stop the 2025 4th of July Fireworks

In 2025, a petition calling for the cancellation or modification of the Big Bear Lake Fourth of July fireworks show gained more than 40,000 signatures. Supporters cited concerns about Jackie, Shadow, Sunny, Gizmo, and other wildlife, particularly because the young eagles had only recently fledged.

While the fireworks ultimately proceeded as planned, the petition brought national attention to the issue and highlighted how much public interest in Big Bear's bald eagle family has grown.

For reference, the petition can still be viewed online even though it is no longer active.

Original Petition
https://www.change.org/p/no-big-bear-lake-fireworks-show-for-the-safety-of-sister-eaglets-gizmo-and-sunny

Have Big Bear Fireworks Ever Been Canceled or Changed?

One of the most common questions surrounding the controversy is whether Big Bear has ever modified or canceled fireworks because of wildlife concerns.

The answer is yes.

In its public response to the 2025 controversy, Visit Big Bear noted that Memorial Day fireworks had previously been canceled during a sensitive nesting period and that Labor Day celebrations had been transitioned to a Drone & Light Parade rather than traditional fireworks.

These examples are often cited by supporters of changing the Fourth of July fireworks because they demonstrate that Big Bear has adjusted celebrations in the past when circumstances warranted it.

Supporters of continuing the fireworks, however, note that those decisions involved different circumstances and do not automatically mean the Fourth of July show should be canceled.



The fact that fireworks have been modified before is one reason the debate continues today.

So Why Weren't the Fireworks Canceled in 2025?

Despite a petition that gathered more than 40,000 signatures, organizers chose to move forward with the 2025 Big Bear Lake Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular.

A key reason cited by both Visit Big Bear and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was that Sunny and Gizmo had already fledged and were capable of flight by the time the fireworks took place.

In its public response, Visit Big Bear stated that federal wildlife agencies did not expect the fireworks to result in nest failure or direct harm to the young eagles because they had already left the nest and were no longer dependent on it. Simply put, the Sunny and Gizmo had fledged.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service similarly noted that while fireworks may cause temporary disturbance, previous years suggested the eagles had tolerated the event and continued using the area afterward.

The Big Bear Fire Department also addressed public concerns leading up to the event. While its statement focused primarily on fire safety rather than eagle impacts, the department stated that the fireworks display had been reviewed, permitted, and would be closely monitored based on weather and fire conditions.

Ultimately, organizers, wildlife agencies, and public safety officials all reached the same conclusion: the fireworks could proceed as planned.

Read the Statements

Visit Big Bear Statement
https://www.bigbear.com/visit-big-bear-4th-of-july-eagle-response

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Response
https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/big-bear/images/USFWS_Response_Letter_Big_Bear.pdf?v=1751414941

Big Bear Fire Department Statement
https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/big-bear/images/Big_Bear_Fire_Dept_Statement_July4_2025.pdf?v=1751418116



Why This Year May Be Different

One of the primary reasons Visit Big Bear chose not to cancel the 2025 fireworks show was that Sunny and Gizmo had already fledged and were capable of flight before July 4.

This year, the situation is less clear.

Unlike Sunny and Gizmo, Sandy and Luna hatched later in the season after Jackie and Shadow lost their first clutch of eggs. Because the second nesting attempt began later, the current eaglets are also developing on a later timeline.

As a result, their expected fledging window overlaps more closely with the Fourth of July holiday.

There is another important difference. By this point last year, Sunny and Gizmo had already fledged, and both eaglets were considered strong flyers. This year, Luna has shown increasing interest in the edge of the nest and appears to be exhibiting some early fledging behavior. Sandy, however, has shown fewer signs and continues to spend much of its time in the nest.

That doesn't mean either bird will or won't fledge before July 4. Every eaglet develops at its own pace, and predicting an exact fledging date is difficult.

Circumstances may be different from those cited by organizers in 2025.

If Sandy and Luna have already fledged before the fireworks, some of the same reasoning used last year may apply. If one or both eaglets remain in the nest, supporters of changing the fireworks are likely to argue that the comparison to Sunny and Gizmo is no longer a direct one.

For now, the biggest question is not whether fireworks will occur. It is whether Sandy and Luna will have fledged before they do.

Where Things Stand Today

The debate surrounding Big Bear's Fourth of July fireworks is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Supporters of the fireworks view the event as a long-standing community tradition that can coexist with wildlife. Supporters of changing the fireworks believe additional precautions should be taken when young eagles are still developing.

What makes this year different is that the outcome may depend on something nobody can control: when Sandy and Luna decide to fledge.

If both eaglets have successfully fledged before July 4, some of the same reasoning used in 2025 may apply. If one or both remain in the nest, the discussion surrounding the fireworks is likely to intensify.



For now, Big Bear finds itself balancing two things many people care deeply about: a cherished holiday tradition and the continued success of one of the most closely watched bald eagle families in the world.