After six years without a city-sponsored Independence Day event, Poulsbo is bringing the 4th of July back in 2026. The city’s inaugural drone show, originally floated for the holiday itself, will now close out the summer concert series in August instead. It’s part of a larger shift: voters approved a permanent ban on consumer fireworks last fall, and that ban takes effect in 2027.
The 2026 event
The city is planning a scaled-down celebration in Waterfront Park on July 4, tied to America’s 250th birthday. Plans include a picnic and the kickoff of the “Summer Nights at the Bay” concert series from 2 to 6 p.m., with two sets of live music. Free concerts then run every Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the downtown waterfront through the summer.
The drone show that was expected on the 4th has been rescheduled to Tuesday, August 11, where it will follow an R&B and soul performance by the group Kalimba. Mayor Ed Stern told the Kitsap Sun that scheduling conflicts and security clearance drove the later date: police will be tied up with Bainbridge Island’s Fourth of July events, so night crowd control wasn’t available, and the Navy needs time to review the drone plans. A July 4 drone show after dusk would also have stretched the day long for most families. By August 11, darkness comes earlier, so the drones can launch closer to 9 p.m. rather than 10.
The 15-minute show features 300 Firefly drones controlled by a student team from Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor, one of only two student-led drone performance teams in the country.
Mayor Stern said the city met with the tribal council before finalizing plans, citing both the 2019 tragedy at Waterfront Park and concerns about fireworks debris in Liberty Bay. Council voted unanimously on May 20 to draw up to $21,000 from city reserves to fund the drone show.
Full story from the Kitsap Sun →
The fireworks ban
In December 2025, the Poulsbo City Council voted 6-1 to ban the sale, ownership, and use of consumer fireworks within city limits, following a November ballot measure that passed 64% to 36%.
Quick timeline:
- July 4, 2026: Last year residents can legally use fireworks in Poulsbo
- December 2026: Ban takes effect
- 2027 onward: Fireworks only allowed at permitted public displays; violations carry civil fines
Full story from the Kitsap Sun →
What it means
If you’ve been doing fireworks at home, 2026 is your last year. After that, permitted public displays are the only option, and the city’s drone show, now an August event, becomes a new summer tradition to watch for.