Shaver Lake annual July 4th fireworks celebration is on, as permit gets OK

Days after sounding the alarm about the possibility of losing its annual Forth of July fireworks celebration for a second year, the Greater Shaver Lake Visitors Bureau said the event is now on.

Organizers had given a May 15 deadline to sign a contract and pay the deposit with Pyro Spectaculars by Souza, which has done fireworks at the event for the past eight or nine years. The Shaver group was waiting on state coronavirus guidance in order to receive the needed permits.

On Tuesday night, Southern Southern California Edison announced it would grant the permit for the show, “relying on the Fresno County approval,” and “so long as there is not a later state/federal prohibition.”

Earlier Tuesday, Assemblymember Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, pledged $12,000 so organizers could sign contracts without having to worry about the deposit. The money would come from Patterson’s campaign account, which he frequently uses to donate to local nonprofits.

“We took that risk away,” said Patterson, who had been working with both the state department of public health and Southern California Edison in clearing a path to make the event happen.

At issue was the state’s current COVID-19 guidelines, which allow for outdoor events, but don’t speak specifically to logistics of an event like Shaver Lake fireworks show — spread out over 3,000 acres in, on and around Shaver Lake, with no grandstands, tickets or single entrance gates.

While Fresno County’s Department of Public Health said it supported the event operating under the state’s current guidelines, SoCal Edison was waiting on updated guidelines, which the state’s department of public health said wouldn’t happen until June 15, the date Gov. Gavin Newsom set for an expected reopening of the state.

Patterson has proposed the conditioned permit, with the assumption that the event will meet whatever guidelines the state issues June 15 and expected it could happen soon.

“I’m optimistic,” Patterson said early Tuesday afternoon.

“I’m appreciative that they are listening.”

Dylan Johnson, chairman with the Greater Shaver Lake Visitors Bureau, said more than simply keeping the tradition of the event alive, this year’s celebration is an important step in getting people to return to the mountain area as it continues rebuilding after the Creek Fire.

“We are a community in need,” he said.

More information about the event is available at Goshaver.org.

How to help

Donations to the Fourth of July event can be sent to Great Shaver Lake Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 476, Shaver Lake, Ca, 93664.

This story was originally published May 18, 2021 at 3:00 PM.