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Most Fourth of July events free, but not in Carlsbad
By: BARBARA HENRY - Staff Writer | ∞
While most of North County explodes with free patriotic fervor on the Fourth of July, folks who want to watch the fireworks in Carlsbad have to pay for the privilege.
They can drive to the Legoland amusement park, which this year is offering a $2 park-and-watch-from-your-car option. Or, they can sneak peeks at the private Four Seasons Aviara or La Costa resort celebrations ---- cars double-park along Leucadia Boulevard with that goal in mind.
But for truly free fireworks or even a daytime patriotic parade or community-sponsored party, Carlsbad residents have to head out of town.
To the north, the Marine-dominated town of Oceanside offers a huge, free celebration of America's birthday that starts days before the official holiday and concludes Tuesday evening with a massive red, white and blue fireworks extravaganza.
To the south and east, many free events beckon, including several in the city of San Diego, plus Escondido's famed old-time party and fireworks show in downtown Grape Day Park, and the smaller community gatherings in Valley Center and Fallbrook. Even Encinitas has a free celebration Tuesday morning at its new Cottonwood Creek Park near the beach.
But, Carlsbad, long-celebrated for its financial tightfistedness, has neither parade, nor parkside party, nor fireworks.
Quiet in Carlsbad
It didn't used to be this way, said city Communications Director Denise Vedder.
In the 1980s, Carlsbad had an annual free fireworks display on the Fourth of July. At first, organizers shot fireworks off from a site along Marron Road where the Olive Garden restaurant stands today. Later, after the restaurant arrived, they rented an off-shore barge.
"It was pretty expensive, and the other thing they ran into is because we're a coastal environment, often it was foggy and very hard to see," Vedder said of the annual fireworks display.
So, when tough economic times came along in the early 1990s, the city eliminated its contributions to the Fourth of July celebration and the event vanished.
The Police Department was pleased because that meant less work for its officers. Tourists were tickled because the city didn't have to close any roadways for parades. And the residents? Well, they have been pretty quiet about the whole situation.
"We really haven't heard from our citizens ---- whom we ultimately answer to ---- that they think this is something that they think we should be doing," Vedder said.
So the city plans to continue its current course.
"We don't really need to do anything to generate people coming here because they're coming here anyway to visit the beach and Legoland," Vedder said.
A grand celebration
Carlsbad's lack of Independence Day displays stands in stark contrast to its northern neighbor Oceanside.
Home to many proud Marines, Oceanside goes all out in the days leading up to the Fourth ---- a parade, a carnival, a multi-day street fair, musical acts, and then the fireworks. By the time the explosive-packed shells erupt off the pier at 9 p.m., more than 100,000 people line the waterfront, said Kim Heim, executive director of MainStreet Oceanside.
The nonprofit organization manages the annual fireworks celebration, which is funded by community donations. The city provides policing assistance and other services on the Fourth, Heim said. There are no plans to charge admission, though donations are accepted both the organization's Web site ---- www.msoceanside.com ---- and on the night of the event.
"This is really is a community-based event, it's not a private corporate event ... and (charging admission) really I don't think it serves the public's interest," Heim said.
That's just the way Escondido's American Legion sees its event, which it has organized at Grape Day Park for 43 years. The nonprofit veterans' group receives some city funding as well as private donations for the event.
"Our thing is we never want to charge for it," said Marty Nielsen, the post commander who's handling this year's celebration. "We almost think we owe it to the citizens of Escondido. We're celebrating America's birthday ---- what a grand way to do it."
-- Contact staff writer Barbara Henry at (760) 901-4072 or bhenry@nctimes.com.
NORTH COUNTY FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS
CARLSBAD: Legoland will hold its celebration and fireworks display at 8:15 p.m. The fireworks are included in the regular park admission price. People who don't want to go into the park can pay $2 to watch the display from parking lot lot off Cannon Road. - DEL MAR: San Diego County Fair has its Fourth celebration/fireworks starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Harrah's Grandstand Stage. The U.S. Southwest Navy Band and KC and the Sunshine Band will perform.
ESCONDIDO: A Fourth of July picnic and fireworks show, Grape Day Park, 321 N. Broadway. Entertainment begins at 3 p.m.; fireworks start at 9 p.m.
FALLBROOK: An Independence Day celebration and benefit at the Grand Tradition at 1602 S. Mission Road. A parade, fireworks, sack races, horseshoes, a duck costume pageant and live entertainment are planned. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m., with the duck derby at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks at 8:45 p.m.
OCEANSIDE: The weekend-long celebration continues with a carnival at Mission Avenue and Myers Street from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday. The street fair downtown is from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.
SAN MARCOS: The city hosts its annual celebration at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Bradley Park at Linda Vista Drive and Santa Fe Road in San Marcos. Live entertainment, food booths and games planned. Fireworks display starts at 9 p.m.
POWAY: City-sponsored fireworks show takes place at 9 p.m. at Poway High School, 15500 Espola Road in Poway. Gates open at 5 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults and free for ages 11 and younger. Fireworks also can be viewed from Lake Poway, 14644 Lake Poway Road, which will remain open past its usual sunset closing time.
RANCHO BERNARDO: Revelers can watch a fireworks display at Rancho Bernardo Heights Middle School, 12990 Paseo Lucido in Rancho Bernardo. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 9 p.m.
VALLEY CENTER: Fireworks show starts at 9 p.m. at the Valley Center High School Football Stadium, 31322 Cole Grade Road in Valley Center.
VISTA: The largest fireworks show in San Diego County, at least in terms of the number of blasts, is part of an all-day event Tuesday in Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m.
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Carlsbad is the only smart city as usual wrote on Jul 3, 2006 6:47 AM:Every other city would rather go in debt then not fireworks. Carlsbad is smart enough to say if you want them, pay for them. Good Show Carlsbad. That is why Carlsbad has a strong economy, an airport, a strong infrastructure with well paid police and fire personnel. Carlsbad is smart!
El Jefe wrote on Jul 3, 2006 7:20 AM:I love living in Carlsbad where we pay for everything & try to keep out the riffraff & law enforcement problems.
OceansideResident wrote on Jul 3, 2006 7:32 AM:The City of Carlsbad is pretty smart. If you want to watch fireworks in Carlsbad all you have to do is look up! Legoland, Aviara and LaCosta are not going to be able to tent their action. Or, better yet, they know how big a mess the beach can become and the cost of public services who have to monitor and manage such an event, so the public comes to Oceanside beach and the taxpayers in Oceanside foot the bill and pay all the public services expenses to clean up after the little pigs. By-the-way, in case this story writer Barbara Henry, hasn't been in North County very long, the CITY of Oceanside is NOT a Marine dominated TOWN. We, like all Coastal CITIES, are a CITY. This CITY, like any other in North County, has a good number of Military residents. The Marines who want a party atmosphere go to Carlsbad to play. There are no party places in Oceanside for them to hang out. The writer of this story knows nothing about North County except what she has heard.
American Vet wrote on Jul 3, 2006 7:40 AM:Are you kidding me? In a time like this how can you be so anti- American?
A reader wrote on Jul 3, 2006 7:49 AM:Carlsbad's decision not have a free fireworks display puts pressure on their neighboring cities. Carlsbad residents wishing to view fireworks without having to pay for the privilege will be adding to the traffic and crowds in neighboring cities.
So Cal Native wrote on Jul 3, 2006 8:22 AM:To all you transplants that are anti fireworks in Carlsbad, it used to be the thing to do. There was never any problems even when they closed down Carlsbad Blvd. Those were the good old days that are long gone because Carlsbad in to CHEAP when we know they have plenty of money. How long has Bud been mayor now? Forever.
FleetStreet wrote on Jul 3, 2006 8:55 AM:You can see the Legoland fireworks for free from the parking lots of the office buildings along Fleet Street or adjacent Armada Drive (the road above the Flower Fields) in Carlsbad.
Blowing up Money wrote on Jul 3, 2006 9:23 AM:What an anti Carlsbad tone to the article. Carlsbad has three fireworks displays and all you have to do is look up. Thank you to the private sector for providing the displays so I on't have to pay for it out of my taxes. I was involved in the big bang committee decades ago and the cost then was getting over 40K. Today it's more like 60K to 80K I would rather have that 60k go to the Boys and Girls Club, our schools, parks, library, police, fire, etc. as opposed to a 20 minute display. Again, Thank you Legoland, Avaira and La Costa!
MoreIncorrectNCTreporting wrote on Jul 3, 2006 9:27 AM:To OceansideResident: Barbara Henry's misrepresentation of Oceanside as a Marine dominated TOWN isn't the only inaccurate piece of reporting. Escondido's fireworks have NOT been held in Grape Day Park for 43 years. I do not know all of the locations of the past fireworks, but before they were moved to Grape Day Park a few years ago, they were held on July 3 (yes, the third!) at one of the high schools. C'mon, NCT...get your facts right!
Harry wrote on Jul 3, 2006 9:28 AM:America's greatest song writer and beach guy-Jimmy Buffet-wrote: "Independence Day And all I remember Was a midnight rainbow That fell from the sky As I stand on the beach I slowly surrender To the child in me That can't say goodbye The rockets in the air And the people everywhere Put away their differences for a while Oh I am still a child When it comes to something wild Oh that was the night I painted the sky"
Bob wrote on Jul 3, 2006 9:33 AM:FleetStreet is right. I always watch the Legoland fireworks for free in one of the buisness's parking lots off that street.
Mary wrote on Jul 3, 2006 11:07 AM:By charging, Carlsbad better have a more elaborate display than the free displays in neighboring cities. They will probably not be able to recoop the cost of having free fireworks. Then next year they will face the decision to keep substidizing a more expensive display or having a cheaper less spectacular display free display. Free is definitely hard to compete against. I predict they go the free route next year. Or if they really want to save money they could do like Rancho Penaquitos and have a free display on July 1st that is half the price of a July 4th display. Ours was quite nice last Saturday.
oside citizen wrote on Jul 3, 2006 11:10 AM:carlsbad is right. how many times do we have to tell the city council not to have fireworks at the beach. it's a problem. Mayor Wood you can learn a thing or two from carlsbad. citizens please remember this during this years elections.
Citizens need to pay! wrote on Jul 3, 2006 11:56 AM:You Bet, I agree. Carlsbad is on the cutting edge. Citizens need to pay if they use city services, like we should have toll roads in Carlsbad, and citizen i.d. cards, and special gas tax for non-city residents, and a parade tax to watch and everything else. If you want to live in Carlsbad, you need to pay for the right of it!!
OceansideResident wrote on Jul 3, 2006 12:23 PM:One more good issue for your consideration. Why does Oceanside PAY for a Fireworks display that is EXACTLY like the one put on, on the Beach, at Camp Pendleton, at the jetty. For years we have had two identical displays in the same City. Camp Pendleton is spending our tax dollars on their show!! Why not just enjoy their show from our Harbor and beaches. After we are all paying for their display. What part of the word redundant does the City of Oceanside not understand?
North County Local wrote on Jul 3, 2006 1:11 PM:Why does each city that is 5 miles apart need a fireworks display? I have lived here all my life and have no problem seeing free fireworks wherever I may be in North County. I think it is great that Legoland puts on the display and pays for the fireworks. The $2.00 fee is a small price to pay for a close look at the fireworks. But....getting out of Legoland is very difficult, so for 10 minutes of fireworks, you will have one hour of fighting traffic.
Suzie wrote on Jul 3, 2006 1:25 PM:Why should Carlsbad have their own fireworks, when every city around them does it and they get off scott free. What, you don't think the Carlsbad residents are at the Oceanside Beaches watching them for free? Bet Carlsbad would do their own if Oceanside, Vista and Del Mar quit doing them. Why would their residents care if they don't have fireworks, just drive one town in any direction and the other cities will take care of everything!
X-Carlsbad resident wrote on Jul 3, 2006 2:16 PM:I remember the first year Carlsbad had a fund raiser to pay for the fireworks but did not make enough money. It's a shame Carlsbad cannot afford to pay for fireworks considering they are "considered" a wealthy town. It only comes once a year...! Happy Fourth from a town that does celebrate and has fireworks!
El Jefe wrote on Jul 3, 2006 2:34 PM:It is really amusing to read some of your comments. Pay attention, Carlsbad has 3 firework displays not none & the city chose not to shoulder any of the unnecessary expense. Two of our displays are somewhat private but not impossible to watch, plus the Legloland for only two bucks. The cleanup afterward probably costs them more than $2. I've lived in Carlsbad over 20 years and from my vantage point I am able to see at least three firework displays. That's more than enough! I'd say Carlsbad has their priorities straight with good city management, our residents are happy & our roads are probably in the best repair in the North County. Happy 4th!!***^^
BeanerBouncer wrote on Jul 3, 2006 2:41 PM:The real reason that C'Bad is doin it is cuz they don't want all the DUI cars muckin up in our backyard.
El Jefe wrote on Jul 3, 2006 3:18 PM:BeanerBouncer - Ho!ho!ho! That is an excellent reason. Like I said, eliminate the riffraff. You might recall the big lawsuit a few years ago involving a local gas station who sold gas to a drunk? As unreasonable as it sounds it dragged on for months before the gas station was finally exonerated. Who needs problems? Fireworks just not that important!
Trisha wrote on Jul 3, 2006 5:36 PM:The 4th of July is a celebration that should be enjoyed by all Americans. Cities all across the county have free fireworks! Forget Carlsbad and take public transportation to Oceanside to watch one of the best fireworks in North County! Perhaps it's time for Carlsbad to get a new Mayor.........he's a has been who doesn't want anything for Carlsbad except destroying the flower and strawberry fields! Give me a break!!
just to set the record straight wrote on Jul 3, 2006 5:46 PM:the city of oceanside does not pay for the fireworks. that expense is covered by the street faire and carnival that mainstreet oceanside took over from a group of volunteers that raised the money every year. i know because i worked on it for several years. if it were not for the carnivale and street faire there would not be any fireworks. donations from the general public and businesses if very minimal. a large part of the expense if for the barge which when it was handed over to mainstreet, the cost was $11,000. i am sure that it has gone up since then. money raised over and above that are spent on fireworks. i believe oceanside has had fireworks for as long as we have had a pier. they used to shoot them off the pier but it became too dangerous and switched to a barge.
CarlsbadSux wrote on Jul 4, 2006 2:36 AM:Carlsbad is able to charge because Carlsbad is filled with rich snobs that do not want to have to associate with those "other" people like those nasty Marines that dominate Oceanside (what a joke). Carlsbad sucks. Everything is overpriced, and for what? So, you can go to the outlet center or pay more for everything you buy. Pay for fireworks? What are they going to do? Put up a giant wall?
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