Spectators watch the fireworks over Lake Isabella during a past Fourth of July show. PHOTO BY AARON CRUTCHFIELD
There’s an oasis hidden in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains; the 11,000-acre Lake Isabella. An artificial lake created when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Kern River, the lake is a popular and exciting tourism spot on the edge of Central California.
Along with its water sports and events, like the pending Isabella Lake Fishing Derby, the area is also known for putting on an amazing Independence Day fireworks display.
“Our audience has grown tremendously in the last several years, because there have been more and more places that previously did shows that financially cannot keep up with the increasing costs of a show. Plus with the fire dangers in California, there’s fewer and fewer places to watch fireworks. And ours has grown quite a bit. We’re one of the largest shows there is.
“The big draw for visitors is that we have kind of a unique show. It’s one of the only ones, if not the only one in California, that is allowed in the national forest, with all the concern about starting wildfires,” said local businessman Steve Spradlin, who’s been the event planner for the fireworks show for years.
Lake Isabella has a fantastic advantage that allows the presenters to push the envelope with larger shells and more fireworks being fired — Engineers Point in the middle of the lake. This location is used as the launch venue and the lake serves as a buffer zone, which prevents fires from starting. According to Spradlin, the nearest spectator is a quarter mile away from the fireworks launch — a substantial difference from a fireworks show being held at a park or a fairground. With the furthest spectators being three to four miles away, the show needs to fire larger shells for their benefit.
“We shoot off anywhere from a three-inch shell to an eight-inch shell,” Spradlin said. “This year we’re going to move up and actually have some 10-inch shells in it (the show), which is about the largest we’re legally able to shoot.” The show promises to be spectacular with over $40,000 worth of fireworks purchased, and roughly 1,000 shots will be fired during the 20-minute display.”
Lake Isabella’s annual fireworks show is a big communal project, run by the Kern River Chamber of Commerce since 1993. The prices of fireworks have unfortunately risen as much as anything else in recent years, but volunteer groups ensure that the show gets funded through various means. Local shoppers have the option of rounding up their purchases in support of the show; there are also firecracker donation canisters next to cash registers to take change. Both of these methods are employed all year-long with eager cashiers proudly supporting these efforts to put on the best show possible.
“Not only does it raise the funds but it raises the awareness of the fireworks and gets the whole community involved in paying for it. So they’re so much more excited about the fireworks that they’ve helped support over the year.”
Some businesses have more direct hand in funding the show. Grocery Outlet is a strong supporter and will be providing free hot dogs and drinks. True Value Hardware and its Shell gas station both provide bulk donations to the fireworks effort. Contributors compete for space on public posters and billboards showing that they donated to support the fireworks show.
“We will certainly post anybody that wants to participate. We do have a minimum of $25 donation to be able to be posted on our bulletin boards,” Spradlin said.
And with all this effort to raise money for a fantastic fireworks show, it’s free to the public — free admission and free parking for everyone who wants to enjoy it.
“There is no charge for parking, because the Forest Serve and campground concessionaire waive the parking fees, only during the show,” Spradlin said.
This year’s show will be on July 5, estimated to start around 9:15 p.m.
“We shoot them off when it’s dark enough,” Spradlon said.