The Big Bay Event

On July 4th, San Diego’s North Bay, known as THE BIG BAY, will light up with a spectacular fireworks display orchestrated to originally produced music selections. Given the natural amphitheater from Point Loma to Shelter Island to the Coronado Ferry Landing, the “show” will capture the attention of hundreds of thousands of people. This is the largest annual event in the western United States with over 500,000 people viewing the show. Book your room now to reserve a spot to the greatest fireworks show on the west coast. The Big Bay Boom fireworks show is displayed from Four barges on San Diego Bay at 9 PM. Bring your lawnchairs, friends and boats.

The “show’ will consist of about 18 minutes of some of the most technically advanced fireworks produced by one of the best worldwide operators of fireworks displays. The fireworks artists will choreograph the 4 barge locations of pyrotechnics simultaneously to music broadcast “live” on 101.5 KGB radio.

The location of the event will be on four barges strategically located around North San Diego Bay. The show takes place throughout San Diego and can be viewed from Shelter Island, Harbor Island, North Embarcadero, Marina District, Coronado Ferry Landing and Boating/On The Water. The Coast Guard, Harbor Police, and special patrol vessels will assist in providing safety on the water along with the Harbor Police and the City of San Diego police will assist in traffic coordination and public safety on land.

Our Event Mission

To provide the annual July 4th Fireworks Show for the viewing pleasure of the residents of San Diego County and the visitors on land and on the water to the North San Diego Bay known as THE BIG BAY. A particular focus will be to enhance the visitation to the Point Loma, Shelter Island, Harbor Island, Mission Hills, Little Italy, North & South Embarcadero, Coronado Ferry Landing, and to promote the business interests on the Port Tidelands and the surrounding communities.

The net proceeds of the event will go to the Armed Services YMCA whose goal is “to enhance the lives of military personnel and their family members in spirit, mind, and body, by providing programs that strengthen families and are relevant to the unique challenges of military life.”

THE BIG BAY BOOM STORY

Over the years there was the Coronado Glorietta Bay July 4th Fireworks Show but no fireworks on San Diego’s “Big Bay”. In 2001, Sandy Purdon, the owner of Shelter Cove Marina and a San Diego Port District tenant, was concerned that July 4th was not a typical celebration on San Diego Bay. Having taken his boat to Glorietta Bay and having to struggle with the huge boat parking lot to view the fireworks, he decided to see if a fireworks show could happen off Shelter Island and Harbor Island in San Diego Bay. Over 500,000 people now attend.

Sandy had been the chairman of the Port Tenants Association in the mid 1990’s. He knew the other business owners and managers on the tidelands around the bay. This included the hotels, restaurants, marinas, shipyards, etc. He thought “if we bring more people down to our waterfront on July 4th, these businesses would benefit.” He thought these businesses might be open to a fireworks event to help their businesses which were experiencing lackluster activity on July 4th. Read more about the upcoming event now.