Fourth of July fireworks shows lit San Francisco up

By Astrid KanePublished Jul. 05, 2024 • 1:30pm

San Francisco celebrated the independence of our troubled nation Thursday by blowing up small parts of it—over and over again. The usual fog partly obscured the spectacular, city-sanctioned displays over the Bay, while in residential neighborhoods like the Mission District that were spared the marine layer, people just lit ’em off in the streets until midnight or later.

Several people gather at night, using smartphones to illuminate a man in a dark shirt and mask, who is holding a cylindrical object with a fuse. — People record a friend doing it for the ’Gram. | Source: Aaron Levy-Wolins for The Standard

A vivid firework display lights up the night sky with red and white streaks. People watch from a dark street, where cars and buildings are dimly visible amidst the smoke. — Onlookers watch fireworks exploding on a residential street. | Source: Aaron Levy-Wolins for The Standard

Several people, centered around a church entrance, discharge fireworks among parked vehicles on a dimly lit street at night. Sparks light up their paths. — Illegal fireworks lit up the sidewalk in front of this Mission District storefront church.
| Source: Paul Kuroda for The Standard

House parties and barbecues spilled into the streets, occasionally halting traffic at intersections like South Van Ness Avenue and 21st Street. There and elsewhere in the city, intrepid (or foolhardy) people scrambled away from honeycombed boxes of fountains and Roman candles that they’d just ignited with a cigarette lighter.

In a dimly lit street at night, fireworks burst and spark, lighting up the scene with bright trails and smoke in front of darkened buildings. — Although police dispersed crowds near Garfield Square, people kept coming back for more action. | Source: Aaron Levy-Wolins for The Standard

Two people are on a street corner at night, facing a police vehicle. One waves an object in the air while the other stands beside them holding a box. — A woman waves to a police vehicle circulating through Mission, a sign of the neighborhood's defiant attitude. | Source: Paul Kuroda for The Standard

Two people are setting up fireworks on the street at night. One person is crouching down placing a firework tube, while the other holds a flashlight and some bags. — Sometimes fireworks halted vehicular traffic, sometimes not. | Source: Paul Kuroda for The Standard

Although not quite as polarizing as sideshows, fireworks certainly have their fans and detractors. Yes, they’re illegal and extremely dangerous (plus they set off car alarms and terrorize dogs, and some of us had to get up and go to work this morning). However, the threat of hefty fines and the occasional presence of San Francisco Police Department vehicles had little discernible effects beyond dispersing people for a few minutes at a time.

It was America’s birthday, and the city went hard.