Despite an animal rights group’s request that fireworks be banned at Rose Bowl events moving forward at the venerable stadium, officials said Friday, April 4, that they could not give a definitive answer on the future of Fourth of July celebrations there after replacing fireworks with a drone show this year. Last week the Rose Bowl and FoodieLand announced plans for a Fourth of July weekend celebration that included a drone show on Friday, July 4, which would replace a traditional fireworks show. “At this time we are just focused on this year, so we can’t give any definitive direction on future years,” Rose Bowl Stadium Chief Executive Officer Jens Weiden said in an email. Weiden added Friday that the venue would host events like concerts and football games that will continue to use traditional fireworks. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Vice President Tracy Reiman sent a letter to Weiden thanking the Rose Bowl for canceling the Fourth of July fireworks show this year but asked for the decision to be permanent. “We strongly urge you to make this policy permanent, as forgoing fireworks helps protect the environment and allows wildlife, domestic animals, and veterans to experience a quieter, cleaner, and less stressful summer,” Reiman wrote. Alhambra and San Marino will be hosting fireworks shows on the Fourth of July while Sierra Madre said it would be putting on a bubble fireworks show. The question over maintaining fireworks shows or switching to alternative celebration has been weighed by several municipalities in L.A. County. In those communities, including downtown Los Angeles and Redondo Beach, revelers in recent years have witnessed hundreds of synchronized drone perform dazzling patriotic displays in the night sky, with nothing more than a low buzz. The city of Rancho Palos Verdes hosted its first Fourth of July drone show with around 100 LED drones creating various images celebrating Independence Day. The event was produced by Sky Elements Drone Shows and took place at the Ken Dyda Civic Center with approximately 4,500 in attendance, according to recreation program supervisor Andrew Berg. (photo courtesy of RPVtv) The Los Angeles suburb of Lake View Terrace, for example, held its second annual drone show two years ago at Hansen Dam, a year after becoming the self-proclaimed first L.A. community to use the automated flyers for Fourth of July. In those communities, local leaders have been mindful of environmental and wildfire risks. In Pasadena, organizers have stopped short of saying this year’s cancellation of fireworks was because of the recent wildfires. But they have said pollution was a concern, citing air quality created by lingering pollution in the air after past events. Rick Flagan, professor of chemical engineering and environmental science and engineering at Caltech, said fireworks, both at public events and at private residences, increase the concentration of elements including potassium, chlorine, sulfur, aluminum and copper into the air. Flagan’s research has focused on particles in the air and on developing tools to measure what’s in the air. Caltech’s elemental analyzer, located in Pico Rivera, which is part of a national network of sites, provides real-time information on particles in the air that could be inhaled. “It’s a spike in the data every year,” Flagan told the Southern California News Group last week. “You don’t have to see the timescale to figure out when is the Fourth of July. You see it in the particles in the air.” Paul Souza, vice president of PyroSpectaculars, the company that has put on fireworks shows at the Rose Bowl in the past and will this year operate the drone show, said the vast majority of the events the company puts on are traditional fireworks shows. He said drone shows are a much newer market compared to fireworks. “Fireworks is a well-established market. The technology is literally thousands of years old,” Souza said. “It’s ubiquitous. Every culture, every country celebrates something with fireworks.” Related Articles Rose Bowl to host 2028 Olympic soccer medal round games Expanded FIFA Club World Cup coming to the Rose Bowl in June ...read more read less