It is time to start searching out the best spot to watch the fireworks show over Gastineau Channel Tuesday.
With warm and dry weather predicted for start of the fireworks display at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, there are many spots to check out the scene.
Twisted Fish Company is hosting “Fish Fest” from 9:15 p.m. Tuesday to 1:45 a.m. Wednesday. Music will start up at 10 p.m. and will go all night. Inside tunes will be spun by DJ Shorthand and outside Shasta and Esjay Jones will be entertaining the crowd. There will be a break for everyone to catch the fireworks show, but the festivities will pick up after the grand finale. There will be pop-up bars all over with $4 beers and drinks specials. Admission is $10 at the bar.
Pier 49 has a pre-fireworks concert featuring reggae star Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown Band starting at 7:30 p.m. Fearon recorded eight albums with Boogie Brown Band and two albums in solo acoustic. Tickets are $25 and available at the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council box office, online and can be purchased at the door. Charlie Herrington, Marketing Director for Juneau’s Waterfront Restaurants, said Pier 49 will stay open after the concert to give people a spot to take in the fireworks display in an outdoor setting. Admission to watch the fireworks show at Pier 49 is free and open to the public.
Heading over to the Merchant’s Wharf, there will be two opportunities for people to grab a bite to eat, have drinks and enjoy a view of the fireworks right on the water. Both Hangar on the Wharf and Alaska Fish & Chips Company at the Flight Deck will be open late. Herrington said there will be drink specials at Hangar. Both places will shut off the lights when the fireworks show starts to allow for the best possible environment.
“If I wasn’t working the other events,” Herrington said. “I would be at those two places.”
Firework guidelines and safety
Firework safety is also being stressed in the City and Borough of Juneau.
The CBJ is requesting that people who want to use fireworks do so in a manner that is considerate of others in the public and residential area. Some fireworks, which are low impact and do not disturb the peace, are allowable at anytime.
Because of Juneau’s location, there are some unique challenges when lighting off fireworks. With mountain and water surround the area, loud sounds may reflect off of them and sound can travel farther than intended. Also, the city’s urban, downtown area are closley co-located with residential neighborhoods.
There are different restrictions when it comes to lighting off fireworks on July 3 and July 4 that vary from most of the rest of the year. Any saleable firework is is allowed in any location between 10 a.m. July 3 and 1 a.m. July 4 and from 10 a.m.-11:59 p.m. July 4. Saleable fireworks are fireworks that are legal under Alaska statute for consumer purchase and use. Saleable fireworks are fireworks that can be purchased at a store in Alaska. Fireworks that are not allowed include M-80s, firecrackers, explosve aerial rockets, roman candles and other “loud” fireworks.
Juneau Police Department Lt. Krag Campbell said the guidelines set for the holiday offer plenty of time for people to set off fireworks. If people do go against the guidelines set, they are subject to a citation of a $300 fine for disturbing the peace.
“A lot of people want to light off fireworks late at night when people are sleeping and that is not fair to people,” Campbell said. “That is not that time to do that.”
Campbell said it is rare for JPD to issue a citation.
Campbell added that people should practice safety when lighting off fireworks.
“Make sure that you are lighting at a safe area and not pointing at anyone,” Campbell said. “If you are lighting off fireworks that cause flames, make sure not to do it in a super-dry area that could cause a fire. Also, make sure not to let kids light off fireworks if they are unsupervised.”
• Contact reporter Gregory Philson at gphilson@juneauempire.com or call at 523-2265. Follow him on Twitter at @GTPhilson.
