As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, it’s worth reflecting on how much has changed—and how much we’ve left behind. We no longer rely on lamplighters to illuminate our streets or switchboard operators to connect our calls. We don’t gather around the radio for evening broadcasts or wait days for news to travel. We’ve traded horse-drawn carriages for cars and typewriters for laptops. Progress is part of the American story.

But one tradition has stubbornly remained: setting off fireworks.

For many, fireworks are synonymous with celebration. Yet they’re also responsible for a long list of preventable harms—to animals, the environment and humans. If we’re honest about the damage they cause, it’s hard to argue that they still belong in a modern Fourth of July.

At a recent rodeo event in South Carolina, a sudden burst of fireworks reportedly caused a horse stampede, sending people to the hospital. Horses, like many other animals, are highly sensitive to loud, unpredictable noises. When panic sets in, the results can be catastrophic for everyone involved.

It’s not just animals used in events who suffer. Every year, companion animals flee in terror from the blasts. Dogs and cats have been known to crash through windows or break through fences in a desperate attempt to escape the noise. Many are injured, lost or killed. Animal shelters consistently report spikes in missing animals after major fireworks holidays.

Animals in nature fare no better. Birds abandon nests or collide with buildings in confusion. Deer, foxes and others bolt into roadways. Some ingest fireworks debris, which can poison them or be unknowingly fed to their young. For animals, what we call a “celebration” is often a life-threatening event.

And in just the past year, fireworks have been linked to deadly explosions, including a warehouse blast in California that killed seven people and a New Year’s tragedy in Hawaii that claimed multiple lives, including a young child. These aren’t isolated incidents—they’re reminders that fireworks are inherently dangerous, even before they’re lit.

None of this is necessary.

Just as we’ve moved beyond outdated technologies and practices in other areas of life, we have better options today. Drone displays and laser light shows offer the same sense of spectacle—without the risk of explosions, injuries or widespread panic. Cities across the country have already begun making the switch, proving that celebration doesn’t have to come at such a high cost.

The Fourth of July is meant to celebrate freedom, progress and the values that define us as a nation. But progress requires letting go of traditions that no longer serve us—especially when they cause harm.

After all, for backyard entertainment, children once tossed metal-tipped lawn darts through the air before heading inside for candy cigarettes. And toy chemistry sets included mercury, arsenic and radioactive uranium ore. Some things are better left in the past.

As the nation looks toward its next 250 years, we should rethink how we celebrate. Choosing safer, more humane options than fireworks isn’t about taking away anyone’s fun—it’s about recognizing that our traditions should evolve alongside our understanding.

We’ve left plenty of outdated practices behind. It’s time to do the same with fireworks.

_____

Scott Miller is a staff writer for the PETA Foundation, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510; www.PETA.org.

_____

©2026 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.