Obecians were wooed Aug. 25 at a community meeting at Newbreak Church by videos and pitches from local drone and laser technology companies, as the beach community began its search to find viable alternatives to Fourth of July fireworks.

OB’s Independence Day fireworks have fizzled because of the deteriorating condition of OB Pier, which served as the launching pad for the summertime classic. Consequently, well-known civic activist Mike James has begun forming steering and working committees to explore options in creating the first “Luminosity Festival” to replace pyrotechnics.

“We know there are issues with the pier, which structurally can no longer handle large vehicles and what it takes to do fireworks. It’s just impossible anymore,” said James.

James talked about a previous interruption in OB’s annual fireworks display.

“Back in 1980, there had been no fireworks off the OB Pier for four years,” noted James, who was president then of the merchant group that later became Ocean Beach MainStreet Association. “There was no sponsorship for the fireworks so the pier was dark on the Fourth. So we brought the fireworks back, and then, a few years later, we started the street fair and the chili cook-off, thanks to Mike Akey.”

James pointed out Akey has been the liaison between the community and firework companies in staging annual OB pyrotechnics. “Hopefully, he’ll have some capacity with us and help us out because he (Akey) knows his way around the pier with logistics,” noted James.

James then introduced Stu Seymour, who is on the OB Pier Planning Committee, to give a rundown on the status of the iconic structure and its future. “We’re looking at getting a new pier,” Seymour said adding, “We’re in the very early stages. I hope to see a pier developed with construction starting in maybe 2024, which may be wishful thinking. They (City) have plans for a new pier, which will probably be in the same place, similar to what’s existing now. But all those things are still up in the air.”

Regarding the cost of replacing OB Pier, Seymour quipped, “a lot of money, $60 million, $70 million. We want to make it happen.”

James said his search to find fireworks alternatives began with the cancellation of OB fireworks during COVID, after which he began researching “to see what other people were doing around the world, how they’re replacing their fireworks. It’s fascinating. The technologies out there, the possibilities of what we can do as a community.”

A video was then presented, to be found at obluminosity.com, which contains detailed depictions of drone and laser light shows internationally. The website also has a community survey asking locals what they want to see in terms of fireworks alternatives and events.

Kevin Weisman, a local technician with Nu-Salt Laser Light Shows International, then presented a video on the possibilities of using lasers instead of fireworks to entertain Fourth of July revelers. “We do a little bit of everything – concerts, laser light shows for towns and communities like yours,” he said. “We work in Hollywood, TV, and film.”

Noting Nu-Salt has been building lasers for over 30 years, Weisman noted his company manufactures lasers as well, including high-powered ones meant for public spectacles. “If you’re looking to give a show for 50,000 people, ours is definitely the one you want to go with,” he said.

Added Weisman, “We’ve worked with Petco Park and the San Diego Gulls, and done Fourth of July for the Gaslamp Quarter.”

After discussing the two types of laser shows, Weisman said, with certain limitations, and the cooperation of the Federal Aviation Administration: “We can safely do these shows anywhere. We could set up lasers on the pier and terminate on the rock wall, or vice versa. We could even use lasers if you want to do some sort of block party. We can also do 3-D mapping with lasers for individual businesses who want to participate.”

Jeff Stein of Drone Studios gave his pitch for use of coordinated drones instead of fireworks in Fourth of July shows with a video presentation. “We want to be the first local drone show company,” he said. “We can fly drones up and down the beach and up to 400 feet high, our ceiling, and you can see them from really far away. We could launch them from the pier.”

Stein likened drones in a coordinated display to pixels in a digital image noting that, just like a camera image, the more drones you have, the larger and more dramatic the image, or show, will be. One drawback, he noted, is that the technology is so new and evolving that the cost of drones is more right now than fireworks. “But the technology gets better, and cheaper, every year,” Stein pointed out.

At the end of the community luminosity meeting, Tricia Tellier Gaut asked for volunteers to staff working committees to be formed over the next couple of months as the long-term project evolves.

OB LUMINOSITY

Community survey and videos of high-tech fireworks alternatives at obluminosity.com.

Over the next couple of months, the effort to find fireworks alternatives will be forming committees and meeting with community leaders. Tricia Tellier Gaut, co-chair Luminosity Steering Committee, may be contacted at [email protected].

Next community luminosity meeting will be 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28 at Rincon Brewery, 4836 Newport Ave.