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 population 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 population 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 contributors 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 declared As the committee was planning the festival in Pridmore commented city representatives 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 crew remained optimistic about reaching an agreement with the city the festival ultimately lost its fireworks permit Without the fireworks Pridmore declared 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 crucial funding challenges as Pridmore mentioned 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 stated We had to go into savings to pay for it Permit costs are a large part of the price tag as Pridmore disclosed expenses have increased to about times the amount the nonprofit paid back in He added that ever since the committee reported 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 society that way Pridmore commented Without this event it ll be harder to do that The committee has begun to raise funds for a anticipated return in hoping to secure the necessary permits from the city and meet its funding targets However Pridmore disclosed 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 stated 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 revealed that those who want to see the event return can assistance it by making online donations and joining the unit of participants