NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com.
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To the Editor:
Many thanks to the countless individuals who planned and implemented the Family 4th this year. Although Mother Nature got overly involved and played a bit of mischief with the event, it was wonderful to come together to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday.
As New Canaan begins thinking ahead to next year’s Independence Day celebrations, let’s investigate replacing or supplementing traditional loud fireworks with low-noise fireworks and drone light shows.
Every Fourth of July, our skies fill with dazzling color — but also with concussive booms that reach well over 150 decibels. It’s worth asking who bears the cost of that tradition, and whether we can keep the spirit of the holiday while easing the burden on those who suffer from it.
Veterans and those with PTSD. For these individuals,the sudden, percussive blasts of fireworks are not just startling — they can trigger flashbacks and severe anxiety reminiscent of combat. Some locations in Europe and a few in the U.S. have started using “quieter” fireworks options out of respect for veterans, and it’s a gesture that costs us little but means a great deal, and is a great opportunity for New Canaan to be a leader.
People with sensory processing differences. Autistic individuals, those with sensory processing disorders, and many others find the sharp, unpredictable noise of fireworks genuinely painful rather than festive. A celebration meant to bring the community together shouldn’t come at the cost of excluding or distressing some of its members. This year’s inclusive quieter zone was a fantastic addition – but we can do even more to help individuals who struggle with loud noises.
Wildlife. Fireworks displays are well documented to panic birds into sudden, disoriented mass flight, sometimes with fatal results, and to send other wildlife fleeing into roads, fences, and other dangers. The stress hormones triggered by the noise can persist in animals long after the show ends.
Pets. Any dog or cat owner who has coaxed a trembling, panicked animal out from under the bed on the Fourth of July knows this firsthand. Animal shelters and rescue organizations consistently report a spike in lost and runaway pets around Independence Day, as frightened animals bolt from yards and homes.
The environment. Traditional fireworks release fine particulate matter and chemical residue — including heavy metals used for coloring — into the air and waterways. In areas prone to drought or wildfire risk, they also pose a real fire hazard.
Human health. Beyond the anxiety fireworks cause for veterans and sensory-sensitive individuals, the noise and smoke also affect people with respiratory conditions, young children, and the elderly.
Low-noise fireworks — which produce the same visual spectacle with a fraction of the sound — and drone light shows offer a way forward that doesn’t ask us to give up the wonder of the holiday. Drone shows in particular have become increasingly popular and affordable, offering choreographed, silent displays that can be just as breathtaking as traditional fireworks, with none of the noise, air pollution, or fire risk.
I’d encourage our Town Council and event organizers to look into these alternatives for next year’s celebration. We can honor our nation’s birthday in a way that’s inclusive of veterans, considerate of residents with sensory sensitivities, kinder to animals both wild and domestic, and lighter on our environment — without dimming the meaning or festivity of the day one bit.
Sincerely,
Irene Hendricks
Not a popular opinion though I agree with you on this, Irene. I think it’s the Parks & Recreation Commission that now organizes the Waveny picnic and fireworks (let’s definitely stay away from the Town Council on noise issues).
The town has used the same fireworks show provider for decades and it’s a great relationship, so I wonder if that company offers quieter displays and whether there’s a significant cost increase. My understanding is that—other than offering comp time to police working the event, which is a significant savings (as municipal officials discovered one summer during a difficult CBA negotiation with New Canaan’s finest)—the town does not pay for the fireworks, it’s a fund that rebuilds each year from pass sales and donations.
I wonder if New Canaanite readers opposed to your proposal will jump in here and point to “patriotism,” coddling participation trophies and the good ole days…
Everyone that financially supported the family fourth celebration went primarily for the fireworks display. They knew exactly what was going to happen and most likely the visual display, loud booms and percussion is exactly what they wanted.
If anyone wants to experience a lower level event with a lessor physical experience, all they need to do is stay home and watch any number of celebrations on TV. By comparison, those televised events dwarf the New Canaan display.
There are a substantial number of families that pay for this annual affair as is, and it would be unfortunate if a few letter writers ruined that for the majority.
Angelo, when the town makes this change, what you can do to enjoy the fireworks is bring headphones that play loud booming noises when the show starts. That way you can attend in person and still get the thrill of pretend canon fire.
Thanks for the advice Mike, but I probably would not be in attendance to that type of show. In the meantime, feel free to use those headphones and play soothing ocean sounds while attending future fireworks displays.
That way you can attend in person and not have to suffer through that pretend canon fire.
Thing is, Angelo, that’s what happens now for more people than you know (kind of the whole point of Irene’s letter).
Thank you everyone, this thread is closed.
Don’t ruin the tradition of New Canaan Fireworks by even considering less noisy, less smokey fireworks based on one person’s opinion. If this alternative is even to be considered, then send a letter to every household informing them of a website poll on this matter and provide a 2-month period of voting that requires name, address and email so no one can vote more than once. Then publish that poll results so all can see. Also the “wording” of the question needs to not be biased, so I suggest following wording so it is a Yes or No answer “One person has written a Letter to the Editor suggesting that New Canaan fireworks be less noisy. Do you want the New Canaan Fireworks to continue as they have been traditionally ?”
It’s worth gently pushing back on the idea that people who struggle with fireworks should simply “stay home.” That perspective overlooks neurodiverse children and families who genuinely want to participate in community events but are excluded by the intensity of the noise.
Fireworks themselves were once an innovation—something new that communities embraced and eventually came to see as tradition. They undoubtedly carry nostalgia, but they also come with real tradeoffs: noise disruption, environmental debris, and stress on wildlife and pets. Drone shows allow for incredible creativity without those impacts.
If the goal is truly a community celebration, it should reflect the community as it exists today. And if we consider ourselves an innovative town, why not embrace, or at the very least entertain, modern alternatives that allow everyone to participate.
Thank you. This is an excellent perspective. The wonderful spectacle of fireworks is something that some individuals cannot experience in their traditional form. Families like mine have never attended the event, despite living here for over a decade. Maybe some day….
All good points! But it’s once a year.
Last less than a hour.
Should we do something about thunder
and lighting? Same effect even worse.
As all dog owners know.
As some people might have experienced this year at the show.
Tradition is one thing and progress is another. They don’t have to clash. Just because fireworks became a tradition at some point over the past 250 years does not mean that a drone show cannot become a tradition in the future. I strongly support eliminating the noise and air pollution caused by fireworks. I hail from India originally where Diwali celebrations create a shocking amount of air pollution that lingers for days. I stopped using fireworks at the age of 13 or 14 when I began to understand the negatives. One of my reasons for moving out of India was the air pollution.
To all the folks who support a gas blower ban in summer, why does the 4th fireworks get an exemption when it is way worse than the blowers. I made this very same suggestion to the town council at the blower ban hearing.
Let’s make progress. Thank you Irene.
Very grateful for this thoughtful article that highlights difficulties and needs for those that are so often overlooked. We don’t have to sacrifice spectacle and beauty by adopting a suitable alternative that offers more accessibility. The celebration would still be magical. Thank you, Irene.