July Fourth in Lincoln City

2025 Independence Day in Lincoln City

July 4th

Festivities start in the Taft District of Lincoln City with live music beginning in the afternoon. Finish up your holiday with the spectacular drone display over Siletz Bay at dusk, approximately 10:00-10:30 pm.

Live Music Schedule

Join us for this year's lineup of live music at the Taft Pavilion (west end of SW 51st Street). The music starts at 12:00 pm and goes right up until the drone show begins at dark. Family friendly and it's FREE.

Performers for July 4th, 2025 are yet to be determined.

4th of July Parking & Shuttle Service

Parking is permitted in the public parking areas throughout the Taft District. Park at Taft High School starting at 3:00pm. Shuttle service to make rounds from Taft High School to Taft Park area until 1:00am. This area of Lincoln City becomes very busy during this event. Please be patient, exercise caution, and plan ahead!

Fireworks are Prohibited in Lincoln City

The sale, offer for sale, possession, and use of fireworks is prohibited everywhere within the city of Lincoln City - including all private and public property (such as beaches. streets. and parks). Violators will be fined and/or prosecuted for lighting any type of firework here. This includes sparklers and novelty devices.

Find further information detailing Lincoln City's firework regulations here.

Pack it In, Pack it Out

After a fun day with friends and family on the sand, help keep our beaches clean by cleaning up everything you brought with you to make it a memorable day. Extra trash receptacles will be on SW 51st St. for all of your disposal needs. We thank each and every one of you for doing your part.

Lincoln City is leading the way to a more environmentally friendly Independence Day celebration starting in 2025. Instead of fireworks, we will be staging an innovative drone show.

Why is Lincoln City Changing Its Fourth of July Celebration?

Lincoln City is leading the way to a more environmentally friendly Independence Day celebration starting in 2025. Instead of fireworks, we will be staging an innovative drone show.

We are making this change in response to growing community concerns about the environmental and wildlife impacts, public safety issues, and wildfire risk that can be caused by traditional fireworks shows. We’re excited to be addressing these concerns while offering an exciting new celebration format for aerial entertainment.

By embracing this new technology, we’ll be protecting Siletz Bay, Salishan Spit, the Wildlife Refuge and the Taft District from harmful chemicals and debris while supporting law enforcement's fireworks regulations, reducing fire risk during Oregon's dry season, and creating a more inclusive celebration that's easier on veterans, pets, and wildlife.

Why Are Traditional Fireworks an Issue?

Even though Lincoln City’s past fireworks shows operated in accordance with fireworks regulations, they still release plastic, gun power, heavy metals like lead, copper, cadmium, titanium, and aluminum, and toxic chemicals into Siletz Bay, the Wildlife Refuge, the Taft District and Salishan Spit. These contaminants impact air quality, wildlife, waterways, soil and human health.

Simultaneously, there’s growing concern among City councilors, staff and citizens about the impact that fireworks have on public safety and law enforcement. While professional shows are allowed within fireworks regulations, police have stated that City-sponsored fireworks make it more difficult to justify and enforce the ​fireworks bans for the general public. Sponsoring fireworks is counterproductive to City efforts to educate against the use of personal fireworks.

In addition, Salishan Spit, the traditional fireworks launch site, is an exceptionally sensitive area. The spit is vulnerable to erosion and the show has negative impacts on wildlife in that area.

What is a Drone Show?

The drone show Lincoln City has planned for 2025 is a choreographed display of 200 drones, each fitted with brilliant LED lights that create stunning, precise formations, shapes and animations in the night sky, synchronized to music. These shows serve as a contemporary alternative to traditional fireworks displays, offering a unique, customizable, and eco-friendly form of entertainment.

What Makes This Change Special?

Lincoln City will present the Oregon Coast's first Fourth of July drone light show, positioning our community as a leader in stewardship-friendly celebrations. The custom-designed show will feature local themes and aerial artistry from Sky Elements, a seven-time Guinness World Record holder. Sky Elements is the largest drone show provider in the United States.

What Can Viewers Expect at the Drone Show?

A mesmerizing 15-minute display will combine music and lights, creating magical formations against the night sky. The show is highly visible and offers excellent viewing opportunities throughout our traditional celebration areas.

How is a Drone Show Different From a Fireworks Show?

A drone show offers a new kind of visual entertainment in the night sky. While fireworks create bright bursts and loud booms, a drone show features illuminated drones moving in formation to music, creating shapes, animations and stories in the sky. This sophisticated use of technology enables show producers to form recognizable images and symbols for a unique and memorable experience. While quieter than traditional fireworks, drone shows deliver visual excitement through choreographed movement, color changes and dynamic patterns. Best of all, when the show ends, there’s no debris, smoke or toxic chemical residue on our beaches or in our community.

How Does This Benefit Our Community?

This eco-friendly Drone Show eliminates chemical pollutants and debris, reduces fire risk, creates less disturbance for veterans and pets, and protects our local wildlife while maintaining the festive spirit of Independence Day.

Is This Weather-Dependent?

The show can operate in winds up to 30 mph, and if weather requires rescheduling, the show will be presented at no additional cost. The drone show operations team works with meteorologists to ensure optimal viewing conditions.

What Makes This Show Unique?

Unlike traditional fireworks, drone shows can create recognizable shapes, words, and moving images in the sky — without the negative environmental impacts such as debris, contaminants and toxic chemicals.

How is This More Sustainable?

Our new drone show will leave no chemical residue, produce zero smoke or debris, and eliminate the release of heavy metals and toxic chemicals into Siletz Bay, our Wildlife Refuge, Salishan Spit and the Taft District.

What About the Cost? Is This More Expensive?

This investment in sustainable technology reflects our commitment to both celebration and conservation. The $70,250.18 contract includes custom show design, professional staffing, musical synchronization, and weather backup options - providing excellent value for our community.

Where Can People Watch?

The drone show will be visible from traditional viewing areas in the Taft District and along Siletz Bay. The precise nature of drone technology allows for optimal viewing from multiple locations, and we'll provide a detailed viewing guide as we approach the event.

How Does This Support Public Safety?

By transitioning to a drone show, we're supporting our law enforcement's efforts to manage fireworks regulations while reducing fire risks during Oregon's dry season. This creates a safer celebration for everyone while maintaining the magic of our Fourth of July tradition. It’s also easier on veterans, pets, and wildlife.