The annual Fireworks by the Sea 4^th of July event at the Channel Islands Harbor will not take place due to lack of funding, the Ventura County Harbor Department announced today.

This marks the second year in a row the fireworks show will not take place. Last year it was shut down due to lack of funding and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding for Fireworks by the Sea

Ventura County Harbor Department Director Mark Sandoval said the fireworks show is traditionally funded by the Harbor Department and the City of Oxnard. However, budget shortfalls forced both agencies to eliminate funding for the event.

In response, in 2020, a GoFundMe campaign was launched by the Channel Islands Harbor Lessees Association to help fund the event. The campaign was intended to cover half the cost of the show, estimated to be $42,500. All funds needed to be raised by the end of March 2020. The GoFundMe campaign raised under $5,000.

“We appreciated the gesture from the community, but it was a fraction of what was actually needed to run the show,” Director Sandoval said. “Moving forward, the prospects of future fireworks shows at the Harbor will be dependent upon private fundraising.”

Editor’s Note: this story was published on June 8, 2021.