Photos: Fourth of July fireworks light up the skies in the Bay Area and beyond

The skies over a scattering of Western U.S. cities will stay dark for the third consecutive Fourth of July as some major fireworks displays are canceled again this year — some over wildfire concerns amid dry weather and others because of enduring pandemic-related staffing and supply chain issues.

Overseas shipping, transportation in the U.S., rising insurance costs and labor shortages have led to the canceled displays, along with demand for fireworks shows at concerts, sports stadiums and the Fourth of July holiday that largely were absent during the first two years of the pandemic,” said Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association.

Lompoc on California’s central coast and Castle Rock in Colorado canceled their pyrotechnic displays over worries about wildfires. Fire officials in some cities worry that the cancelations of community displays could prompt some people to ramp up their use of consumer-grade fireworks.

But many cities still managed to light up their skies with brilliant fireworks displays. Here’s some of our favorite photos from the Bay Area and around the nation.

Click here if you’re unable to view the photos on your mobile device.