Representatives from DSM Events told the Lake Havasu City Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on June 23 they plan to stage a free Fourth of July festival centered on fireworks to be fired from Pittsburgh Point by the lighthouse and to develop festival programming around the display.

Steve Tichner, DSM Events, said the company was approached by city hall about expanding the city’s fireworks into a broader festival and that site selection was driven by safety and ownership concerns at the former firing location (Spectator Point). "We selected Pittsburgh Point by the lighthouse," Tichner said, and the pyrotechnic supplier familiar to the city will continue to provide the shells.

Jim Russell, Tichner's business partner, described festival logistics: festival grounds will use the city’s baseball diamonds for a free public area with a 450-seat grandstand for viewing, food trucks, display boats and cars, and a fenced 200-foot-square area to meet "liquor requirements" for on-site alcohol service. Tichner said the festival will "open the free festival at 1PM" on July 4 and that setup will begin the week of the event, with equipment coming in the Tuesday before and additional setup on Thursday.

City staff and DSM Events said they coordinated with fire and public-safety officials to clear brush and establish fallout zones required by the fire department. Tichner said city staff and public-safety liaisons including Guy (park superintendent) and Chief Pete reviewed the site. DSM Events also plans to work with the marine association on boating viewing locations and with local partners including Go Lake Havasu and Anderson Auto and Powersports Group on sponsorship and displays.

Organizers said the event will offer cooling stations, a water slide, Mojave mist cooling stations and activities for kids as part of an effort to provide a day-long festival experience rather than only a fireworks display. Russell said the promoters will pilot the festival this year and may expand it in future years to multiple days or add additional attractions.

The presentation was followed by a public hearing; no members of the public addressed the board on the item. The board asked no formal questions requiring action and no vote was taken.

Ending: DSM Events will begin on-site setup the week before July 4; staff and organizers will coordinate final safety approvals and logistics with city public-safety departments. No formal board action was recorded at the June 23 meeting.