In an emailed notification tonight (July 1), the City of Lakewood stated:

The County of Los Angeles has issued a new public health order that bans all large-scale fireworks shows in the county in order to reduce the chances of people congregating and creating a COVID-19 transmission situation. Lakewood is subject to the public health orders of the County of Los Angeles.

The City of Lakewood appealed strongly to the county because we had designed our July 3rd fireworks event to not involve people congregating. The event was designed so that people could see the fireworks from their property or nearby, but not at a single gathering location. However, the county turned down the appeal and stood by the need to maintain a one-size-fits-all cancellation of all fireworks shows in the county for the time being. Lakewood is a law-abiding community and will of course follow the law and public health order.

The City of Lakewood is very disappointed with the news, but has also put its thinking-cap on to come up with some community alternatives for Lakewood residents, even if none fully makes up for the loss of the fireworks shows that had been planned for July 4th.

[Scroll down for further.]

Here is what the city has come up with:

• The city has secured an agreement with our fireworks contractor to put on another similar fireworks show in Lakewood at some point in the coming months when the county public health order allows.

• The city is encouraging residents to have a community-moment together on July 4th by lighting a candle at the same time (8:30 p.m.) and singing the patriotic song "God Bless America" in our front yards...

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