The City of Tucson has told residents it will end the traditional fireworks display at Sentinel Peak—commonly called A Mountain—and introduce a drone light show in its place beginning next year. That change means the fireworks scheduled for Saturday night at 9 could be the last conventional pyrotechnic display on the site. City officials are preparing the community for the transition while arrangements for public viewing of this year’s show include free access at the Tucson Convention Center's Lot B and the City-State Garage on Congress.
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The white 'A' on Sentinel Peak (A Mountain) in Tucson, shown ahead of the planned replacement of the mountain's traditional fireworks display with a drone show.
Reactions among people who live near and visit A Mountain varied widely when asked about the announcement. Some neighborhood residents and business owners welcomed the move away from fireworks, citing environmental and safety considerations, while others said they value the long-standing tradition and atmosphere the pyrotechnics bring. Several people said they can understand both positions and expressed interest in finding a compromise that maintains a festive experience while addressing the concerns raised.
Christian Reich, who lives on A Mountain, said he supports the city’s decision. He pointed to the aftermath of the fireworks displays that follow past Fourth of July celebrations: "After the Fourth of July, all of the debris and the soot and the ashes just covers all of the properties," Reich said. He described the effect as dirty from an environmental standpoint and added that the displays are loud and dangerous. Reich also criticized the water use involved in staging the shows, saying, "The city has to douse the mountain in water in order to make sure it doesn't catch fire. So all of that water, especially in the desert, is a huge waste."
Others who have long-standing ties to the event offered a more ambivalent view. Eric Fletcher, owner of Minimal Mae at the MSA Annex, said he appreciates the tradition and understands why many people want to hold on to the fireworks. "I get the idea of traditional fireworks," Fletcher said. "It's pretty awesome, but I also understand what it does to the environment, what it does to the mountain, what it does to the animals in the area." His comments reflect concern both for the local landscape and for wildlife that might be affected by the noise and physical fallout from pyrotechnics.
Fletcher, who was born and raised in Tucson and has watched the A Mountain fireworks for decades, expressed a willingness to consider alternatives that preserve some of the sensory impact of the celebration. He said he would like to see a hybrid approach if possible: a way to capture the spectacle without the same environmental toll. "We can figure out a way to do both worlds," Fletcher said. "So maybe we do speakers where it sounds like fireworks going off but it's just drone work. I'm open to the idea. I love it."
People who spoke with reporters represented a range of views: some opposed fireworks outright, citing cleanup, safety and water use; others were skeptical of drones and reluctant to lose the traditional show; and many understood the trade-offs and said they would accept a new format if it reduced damage to the mountain and surrounding properties. The city has framed the change as a modernization of the celebration that addresses ecological and safety issues while still providing a public spectacle.
For those planning to attend this year's event, the fireworks display will launch at 9 p.m. on Saturday. The city has designated free public viewing areas at the Tucson Convention Center’s Lot B and at the City-State Garage on Congress. With the official change to a drone show slated for next year, city leaders and residents will now watch this year's display with the possibility that it may be the last traditional pyrotechnic celebration at A Mountain.
KGUN 9 reports the shift, set to begin in 2027, was directed by the mayor and City Council to reduce wildfire risk after a 2017 brush fire, plus noise effects on pets, wildlife and sensitive residents. Officials noted future drone displays could relocate from Sentinel Peak for improved viewing, while animal-care advocates voiced hope the change will prove less distressing for pets.
KGUN reported the city’s professional fireworks show costs about $28,000 each year; that cost was covered this year by a donation from the Tohono O’odham Nation’s Desert Diamond Casinos while the city pays for Tucson Fire, Police and other city services.
Kevin Luckenbill, who has run the A Mountain fireworks with Fireworks Productions of Arizona since 2019, told reporters he was upset by the change and said the A Mountain fireworks tradition began in 1984.
Tucson Fire inspectors said they begin assessing and wetting down the mountain weeks in advance, and this year will use an infrared-equipped drone during the event to scan for and relay any hotspot detections to firefighters on the slope.