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While fireworks once lit up Boulder’s Fourth of July, the city has moved on from the tradition due to rising fire risks, noise concerns, crowd issues, and high costs. But there’s another reason to consider: air quality. This year’s air quality data from across the Denver metro area reveals that Boulder’s lack of a city-run fireworks show resulted in noticeably lower pollution levels compared to neighboring cities.
Boulder: A case study in doing things differently
Fireworks contribute to air pollution by releasing a cocktail of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. When ignited, they emit particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), which are tiny airborne particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Fireworks also release heavy metals like strontium, barium, and copper — used to produce vivid colors—which can be toxic when inhaled. Additionally, the combustion of black powder (gunpowder) produces carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and smog formation. The impact is especially noticeable during major firework displays on the Fourth of July, when a sudden spike in air pollution occurs and lingers for several hours across the entire Front Range.
Since 2019, Boulder residents have experienced far fewer of those pollution spikes on the Fourth, largely because the city stopped hosting fireworks at Folsom Field. For three years, COVID concerns grounded the show. When festivities returned in 2023, Boulder swapped fireworks for a drone display—an effort to reduce fire risk in a region still reeling from the Marshall Fire. Unfortunately, weather had other plans: severe thunderstorms, wind, and hail scrubbed the drone show. In 2024, a loss of sponsorship led to the event’s indefinite cancellation. And by 2025, Folsom Field hosted a ticketed concert for the holiday instead…