The long-standing tradition of fireworks at the annual Beaver Valley May Days celebration has come to an end.
The Beaver Valley May Days Society announced via Facebook that pyrotechnics will no longer be part of the event, citing an amended bylaw implemented by the Village of Fruitvale that prohibits their use.
Last year’s drone show, introduced as a replacement for fireworks, also won’t return for the 2025 celebration.
In a letter to the May Days committee, Prab Lashar, Fruitvale’s Chief Administrative Officer, explained the decision.
She cited Bylaw 829, originally enacted in 2011 to regulate parks and public spaces.
The bylaw was amended by council on March 3 to explicitly ban fireworks in village parks.
Lashar also pointed to recent upgrades at McInnis Park, specifically, the installation of artificial turf that poses a fire risk.
In the letter, the village emphasized its commitment to public safety and the protection of community spaces, expressing full confidence in the May Days committee to continue delivering a successful event without pyrotechnics.
