San Diego's Big Bay Boom fireworks show starts at 9 p.m. on the Fourth of July. Here's some fun facts — and some practical ones, too — about the show:
It's the biggest fireworks show west of the Mississippi
The executive producer of the show, Sandy Puron, said it's the third or fourth biggest in the U.S. The biggest is the Macy's fireworks show in New York. "We are right up there with the big boys," Puron said.
As many as 500,000 people watch from San Diego's waterfront
The show is in its 16th year
Big Bay Boom started in 2001.
Fireworks are shot from four barges
The barges are near Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the North Embarcadero and Seaport Village. The first year of the show, the fireworks were shot off two barges, Puron said.
It costs $500,000 to put on
Not quite half of the funding is public money. Puron said the San Diego Unified Port District contributes $145,000; San Diego County, $12,000; and San Diego's Commission for Arts and Culture, $60,000.
The cost of the show is now three times more than the first year, Puron said.
Show's economic impact — $10.6 million
That's according to a 2012 study of the show's economic impact that was done by the Fermanian Business & Economic Institute at Point Loma Nazarene University.
Charity benefits from show
Net proceeds from the show go to the Armed Services YMCA, which provides free or low-cost youth development, healthy living and social responsibility programs for junior enlisted military and their families. Puron said more than $700,000 has been donated to the charity since the show began.
One year the show was a bust
In 2012, all of the show's fireworks went off in 30 seconds due to a computer glitch. It was supposed to be an 18-minute show.
The mishap caused the show to get publicity around the world. "So, while it was a lemon in some sense, it turned into lemonade because of the publicity," Puron said.
The following year the fireworks company did the show for free.
You can also watch the show online and on TV
Fox 5 in San Diego and KTLA in Los Angeles will air the fireworks show live during a 90-minute special from 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Monday. Fox 5 will also stream the show on its website.
For more Fourth of July events in San Diego County, click here.
