South Shore 4th of July fireworks show canceled; TDVA aims for Labor Day show

STATELINE, Nev. - The Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority (TDVA) voted unanimously Wednesday afternoon to cancel the 4th of July fireworks show on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe due to concerns around COVID-19 and large group gatherings.

Not all is lost though as TDVA is planning on a Labor Day Lights on the Lake show on Sunday, September 6, Labor Day Weekend. That show will depend on the coronavirus situation at the time and the TDVA board of directors has until July 23 to decide and not be held to any fees from Zambelli Fireworks, the producer of the show.

“The health and safety of our residents and visitors is the top priority,” said Carol Chaplin, president and CEO of the Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority. “The region will re-open in phases and continue to follow the guidelines from health experts and government officials.”

Zambelli had not asked for any deposits to date for the July 4 show. TDVA had until May 15 to decide on holding the show with no expenses incurred. Without knowing if large events will be allowed by the State of Nevada on the fourth, the decision to postpone and move to Labor Day was approved.

The July 4 show was to have cost $240,000 and the shorter, 15-minute show on Labor Day Weekend will cost $175,000.

This decision follows the cancelation of the Truckee, North Lake Tahoe, Kings Beach, and Incline Village shows near and around Lake Tahoe. At this time the only 4th of July fireworks show planned in the area is in Sparks, but that could possibly be canceled as well.

"This was not an easy decision," said the TDVA board.

They said going forward with their annual display would not have been the right decision with the current COVID-19 situation and they did not want to compromise the health of locals and visitors with a large mass of people on the South Shore.