Ashland 4th of July 2021 Update June 29th

The Ashland Chamber Public Fireworks Display show has been cancelled for July 4th, 2021.  The decision, made by the Ashland Chamber Board of Directors with support from Southern Oregon University and the City of Ashland, came to pass due to unprecedented circumstances including extreme heat, historic low fuel moisture, and regional fire activity.  The Ashland Chamber has also heard from many in the community with concerns and fire trauma as a result from the fires in September of 2020. 

"The safety of the Ashland community is of the utmost importance and current conditions require us to reconsider the decision. We feel it is best to be abundantly cautious and cancel the show this year", says Sandra Slattery, Executive Director of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce.  

The Ashland Chamber has produced the 4th of July Parade, Park Festivities and Fireworks Public Display show for decades.  The Ashland Chamber Board of Directors, made up of local citizens, many of who grew up in Ashland, voted in May of this year, to do the fireworks show but forgo the parade and park festivities given the pandemic ramifications and restrictions that were in place at that time.  Fast forward to today, June 29th, following days of record-breaking heat, that has revealed drier conditions than anticipated to the SOU fireworks launch site dependent on delayed TID water.   

"The City is appreciative of the energy and effort that the Chamber puts into all of our community events.  The City and its Fire Department have long standing collaboration and partnership with the Chamber and fully support their very tough decision to err on the side of caution and cancel this event," says Adam Hanks, City Manager Pro Tem for City of Ashland. 

The Ashland Chamber is deeply appreciative of the partnerships, the work and the safety protocols in place by the Ashland Fire Department, the City of Ashland and SOU's use and maintenance of the athletic fields and their crew in prior years.  The Ashland Chamber acknowledges the generous private donations that support the ability to create the fireworks and are obligated through contractual requirements to pay for the full cost of the show regardless, however this decision was made fully based on community safety in mind. 

The sale and use of personal fireworks have been banned in Ashland for years and continue to be, with other communities such as Bend and Portland recently deciding to do the same.

The Ashland Parks and Recreation Run will again be virtual this year. For more information about their event and to register click here.