‘Stars & Stripes’ fireworks show to return to Citrus Heights

By Sara Beth Williams–
The city’s Stars and Stripes celebration will return to Citrus Heights on Saturday, June 29.

The celebration will begin at 6 p.m. at Van Maren Park and will run until 10 p.m., with fireworks beginning at dusk.

The event is free and open to the public, and will feature live music from Pop Fiction, a variety of food trucks, and a Kids Zone with hands-on activities for kids.

Parking will be available at the Citrus Heights Police Department off Fountain Square Drive, and at the Citrus Heights Community Center and Dignity Health, both located at the corner of Greenback Lane and Fountain Square Drive. Attendees are encouraged to ride their bikes or carpool to the event for traffic reduction and parking convenience, the city said, adding that staff are actively working on shuttle options and more dedicated parking options.

Van Maren Park is located at 6601 Thalia Way, which can also be accessed on foot via walking paths from the Stock Ranch Nature Preserve located behind Walmart and Costco on Auburn Boulevard.

Last year, then-mayor Tim Schaefer called the inaugural Stars and Stripes event a success and said it “exceeded” his expectations.

Schaefer, who had been hesitant to support funding the event in 2023 due to vocal objections from fireworks opponents, said the goal of bringing the community together was accomplished.

The City Council voted 3-2 in January 2023 to approve the use of up to $80,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pandemic relief funds to be spent on the event. According to the city, funding for this year’s event was built into the city’s General Fund.

Prior fireworks shows had been held at Sunrise Mall but were privately funded and discontinued in 2012.