Lake Murray fireworks canceled for 2025, future uncertain due to funding, permit issues

The Lake Murray Fireworks and Events Committee hosted the once annual celebration at the locality park with live music food vendors and more File photo by Staff Times of San Diego The Lake Murray Fireworks and Music Festival has been canceled due to rising permit costs and the city s new restrictions on fireworks Hosted by the Lake Murray Fireworks and Events Committee at the group park the th of July celebration featured a full day of live music food vendors and the signature fireworks The display launched over Lake Murray was visible throughout the park and could be seen as far away as La Mesa and Del Cerro However this year s festival faced a number of challenges that ultimately led to its cancellation coinciding with the retirement of long-time executive staff and supporters from the nonprofit We had hoped that we would be able to continue on but we just didn t get the help that we needed committee Treasurer Bryan Pridmore explained As the committee was planning the festival in Pridmore stated city authorities warned them it would be the last time that fireworks would be allowed in the park due to new environmental restrictions He added that although the club remained optimistic about reaching an agreement with the city the festival ultimately lost its fireworks permit Without the fireworks Pridmore disclosed there was no reason to carry on with the music festival as it was largely held as a means to secure funding for the firework show The event also faced substantial funding challenges as Pridmore reported the nonprofit did not raise enough money to cover the costs of this year s festival We didn t even raise enough money for last year s show Pridmore declared We had to go into savings to pay for it Permit costs are a large part of the price tag as Pridmore declared expenses have increased to about times the amount the nonprofit paid back in He added that ever since the committee declared the event s cancellation residents have voiced their frustration seeing the event as an essential way to bring the society together You d come to celebrate our country and then meet someone who turns out to be your neighbor or someone next door and you d build population that way Pridmore announced Without this event it ll be harder to do that The committee has begun to raise funds for a feasible return in hoping to secure the necessary permits from the city and meet its funding targets However Pridmore mentioned there are still several obstacles to overcome before the event can happen If we still can t get through the red tape of the city and the permitting cost process we still may not be able to hold the event Pridmore noted Right now it s unknown If the event returns fireworks are likely to be scrapped altogether Instead organizers are considering a drone show which Pridmore noted could make the event even more costly He noted that those who want to see the event return can promotion it by making online donations and joining the club of helpers