New location for fireworks in Oceanside

OCEANSIDE — July 3 city anniversary fireworks will be held at Rancho Del Oro Road for the third year. There was anticipation that El Corazon Park would be open to view the fireworks, after soccer fields were installed in November 2014, but that’s not the case this year.

Parks and Recreation Division Manager Eileen Turk said the city is going forward with what it knows works.

Keeping with tradition of previous years, there will be a marching band and deejay music before the fireworks show, and about a dozen food trucks on site.

Pyro Spectacular will launch fireworks at approximately 9 p.m. The pyrotechnic company is known for its big shows at Padres and Chargers games.

Turk said she loves to see families enjoying the event, and the excitement of children viewing fireworks for the first time.

“The look on children’s faces when the fireworks are right above their heads is awesome,” Turk said. “They’re just in awe.”

The viewing area is a closed road, so families can opt to bring their own blankets and folding chairs for seating.

The city pays $26,000 for the show. Turk said due to the city’s anniversary falling a day shy of Independence Day the city literally gets more bang for its buck.

City parks and recreation, police and fire absorb costs of managing the four-hour event in their department budgets. Some funds are raised from food vendor donations for event space. That money goes to Friends of Oceanside Parks fundraising group.

The central location and elevation of the fireworks launch allows the show to be seen from most parts of the city.

“The beauty is it’s in the center of the city,” Turk said. “You can see fireworks from all over.”

Starting at 6 p.m. two blocks of Rancho Del Oro Road, between Seagate Way and Mesa Drive, will be closed to traffic, and the adjacent Ocean Ranch Business Park lot will be open for spectator parking.

There are 1,000 available parking spaces, and 10,000-plus spectators are expected to attend. Folks are encouraged to carpool and take the Sprinter.

Turk said there’s a possibility that El Corazon Park will be open for viewing fireworks next year. This depends on SoCal Sports Complex, which manages the grass fields.

Turk said this year the company is giving the fields time to take root, and seeing how they hold up during 24 booked tournaments.

For more information on July 3 fireworks, go to oceasiderec.com.