Boulder skipped fireworks again. The air quality data says a lot.

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While fireworks once lit up Boulder’s Fourth of July, the city has moved on from the tradition due to rising fire risks, noise concerns, crowd issues and high costs. But there’s another reason to consider: air quality. This year’s air quality data from across the Denver metro area reveals that Boulder’s lack of a city-run fireworks show resulted in noticeably lower pollution levels compared to neighboring cities.

Boulder: A case study in doing things differently

Fireworks contribute to air pollution by releasing a cocktail of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. When ignited, they emit particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10), which are tiny airborne particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.

Fireworks also release heavy metals like strontium, barium, and copper — used to produce vivid colors — which can be toxic when inhaled. Additionally, the combustion of black powder (gunpowder) produces carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and smog formation. The impact is especially noticeable during major firework displays on the Fourth of July, when a sudden spike in air pollution occurs and lingers for several hours across the entire Front Range.

Since 2019, Boulder residents have experienced far fewer of those pollution spikes on the Fourth, largely because the city stopped hosting fireworks at Folsom Field. For three years, Covid concerns grounded the show. When festivities returned in 2023, Boulder swapped fireworks for a drone display — an effort to reduce fire risk in a region still reeling from the Marshall Fire.

Unfortunately, weather had other plans: Severe thunderstorms, wind and hail scrubbed the drone show. In 2024, a loss of sponsorship led to the event’s indefinite cancellation. And by 2025, Folsom Field hosted a ticketed concert for the holiday instead.

Thus, Boulder is an interesting test case for examining how the lack of city-run fireworks impacts the amount of particulate matter in the air.

So, did it make a difference in 2025?

Let’s take a look at how regional air quality degraded this year on the Fourth. Keep in mind that the wind was blowing in from the west or northwest during the evening, though it was light at only around 5 to 10 mph.

Thus, cities in the western Metro area would be constantly receiving “clean” air coming down from the Foothills, whereas locations farther east would be receiving air from upstream cities that were also launching heaps of fireworks. We specifically chose Boulder and Longmont as they are both on the northwest side of the Denver Metro area, which, given the winds Friday night, would mean they were receiving similarly low amounts of pollution from upstream.

Here are a few observations and summaries from a few select cities:

• Boulder: Barely any uptick was detected until around 11 p.m., when Air Quality Indices (AQIs) increased to ~70. Air quality started returning to normal after 1 a.m. The slight uptick likely came from private fireworks, many illegal and imported from Wyoming. Particulates lingering until 1 a.m. suggest people continued lighting fireworks late into the night or that topography slowed the air clearing.
• Longmont: Pollution began increasing around 8:30 p.m., peaking around 10 p.m. at 120–170 AQI — coinciding with the city-run show. Most locations returned to normal by 11 p.m., though one station remained elevated past midnight. Longmont had the highest spike at ~155 but cleared out the fastest.
• Broomfield: Like Longmont, pollution rose early, possibly as early as 8 p.m. Most locations peaked at ~140 between 9:30 and 10 p.m. during the fireworks show. Levels returned to normal around midnight.
• Denver (Downtown-ish): Despite no official fireworks (except for a 15-minute show at Coors Field), Denver still experienced elevated particulates from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., peaking at ~145 AQI. This points to widespread citizen fireworks and polluted air blowing in from upstream cities.

Why Boulder’s not going back

Fireworks may have been a big part of Boulder’s Fourth of July celebrations in the past, but there are plenty of reasons they may be done for good here:

• Fire danger is no joke during Colorado summers.
• Noise can cause havoc for pets, wildlife and people sensitive to loud sounds.
• Crowd control isn’t always easy, especially near campus or downtown, and when alcohol is involved.
• And let’s not ignore the price: the old show cost around $75,000 a year.

Several hours of forced exposure to unhealthy levels of particulates is just another reason fireworks are unlikely to return in any official capacity to Boulder. This isn’t about banning fun. It’s about rethinking our traditions in ways that better serve our community’s safety and health.

Drone shows, concerts and community events can all carry the spirit of celebration without clouding the air we breathe — air that is so often already filled with thick wildfire smoke and ozone this time of year.

Boulder has made its choice already. Maybe it’s time for other Front Range cities to follow suit.