A Mercer Island fireworks stand on June 28, 1961.P-I File
The original caption read: Mrs. Bernie Botz sells fireworks to a costumer on July 2, 1963.P-I File
Customers at a Kenmore fireworks stand on July 2, 1963.P-I File
David Campbell, assistant fire marshal, shows "safe and sane" fireworks on June 27, 1975.P-I File
Kids in King County hurry to get away from a firework on June 28, 1975.P-I File
A King County fireworks stand, June 29, 1975.P-I File
Teri De Groote ties a fuse on a piece for Seattle's bicentennial celebration, 1976.P-I File
Sue Yager, pyrotechnician at Red Devil Fireworks Co., displays shells used at a Ivar's fireworks show on July 4, 1976.P-I File
The 1978 Fourth of July celebration in Seattle.P-I File
The 1979 fireworks show over Elliott Bay in Seattle.P-I File
Kelly Lozier holds some fireworks while behind the counter of his fireworks stand on July 1, 1981. Lozier's stand was at the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation.P-I File
Kelly Lozier holds some fireworks while behind the counter of his fireworks stand on July 1, 1981. Lozier's stand was at the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation.P-I File
Boom City on the Puyallup Indian Reservation on June 25, 1983.P-I File
Lawrence Jones and Christy Baker ran the Silver Eagle Fireworks stand at Boom City on July 9, 1984.P-I File
A car is blown up with a box of M-80 firecrackers that detonated all at once during a June 1985 demonstration.P-I File
Dave Fugit, former Auburn fire marshal, shows M-70s and other firecrackers on June 16, 1987.P-I File
Been Nelson Mans at a fireworks booth on the Puyallup Indian Reservation on June 19, 1987.P-I File
Mike Forbragd, left, and Mike Smith put wet sand around the bases of the tubes for a Seattle show on July 3, 1989.P-I File
A youngster backpedals away after lighting a firecracker at Boom City in 1998.P-I File
Don Guyot loads a 12-inch shell into a mortar tube in preparation for the Fourth of Jul-Ivar's Fireworks display over Elliot Bay, 1998.P-I File
The Fourth of Jul-Ivar's fireworks display over Elliott Bay, 1998.P-I File
Boom City on the Tulalip Indian Reservation had 162 fireworks stands in July 1998.P-I File
The July 4 fireworks show over Lake Union in 2000.P-I File
Neil Chrisman loads a 12-inch shell on board one of two barges anchored in Lake Union, June 2003. Chrisman worked for the Japanees fireworks companies Abe and Niigata who coordinated the show with the American pyrotechnic company PPA Spectaculars.P-I File
Edwin Poulia at The Love Shack fireworks stand at the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, July 2004.P-I File
Buzz Anderson, president of Rainier Valley Historical Society in 2005, holds a reprodution of a poster for Hitt Fireworks, which produced fireworks in Seattle from 1905 to 1976.P-I File
A United States flag flutters in the breeze as fireworks are shot off in the background at the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation on June 27, 2008.P-I File
Cliff Castillo watches a fireworks fountain at the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation on June 27, 2008.P-I File
Fireworks display over Elliott Bay at the Fourth of Jul-Ivar's event. This show, in 2008, was the last Seattle show funded by Ivar's. Read more about the tradition here.P-I File
Dan Sillars, of Sumner, second from right, dropped $75 for this box of fireworks from a Muckleshoot Indian Reservation stand in June 2008. Also in the picture are, left to right, Kailey Egner, Mathew Egner, Sillars and Ryan Whitmarsh.P-I File
Mitzi Gonzalez, 7, lights off some fireworks at the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, June 27, 2008.P-I File
Fireworks are shot off in the background as fireworks stands are open for business at the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation in Auburn, June 2008.P-I File
Fireworks are shot off in the background as fireworks stands are open for business at the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation in Auburn, June 2008.P-I File
Yuttana Sou helps his brother load shelves at a Boom City stand, June 2008.P-I File
Jenna Lee and Shay Yun of Seattle embrace after Yun proposed to Lee atop Kite Hill at Gas Works Park on July 2, 2009. Gas Works is the site of the annual Fourth of July fireworks show in Seattle.Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com
One Reel crew members work to inflate a life-size head of the Statue of Liberty on July 1, 2011 at Gas Works Park in Seattle. Crews started setting up at the park for the Family Fourth at Lake Union firework show.JOSHUA TRUJILLO
Sawyer Moe displaying a mortar to be used in the One Reel Family Fourth at Lake Union fireworks show, Seattle, July 3, 2011JOE DYER
Spectators watch as fireworks explode on July 4, 2011 at Gas Works Park during the Family Fourth on Lake Union in Seattle.JOSHUA TRUJILLO
Fireworks explode on July 4, 2011 at Gas Works Park during the Family Fourth on Lake Union in Seattle.JOSHUA TRUJILLO
Fourth of July fireworks from Lake Union Park in Seattle on July 4, 2011.JOE DYER
Thousands of people gather during Family Fourth festivities at Gas Works Park in Seattle on July 4, 2012. The 21-minute fireworks show cost $150,000 to produce.LINDSEY WASSON
Launch tubes are shown as workers prepare fireworks on a barge on Seattle's Lake Union. The fireworks would later light up the sky for the Seafair Summer Fourth of July celebration, the largest fireworks show in the Pacific Northwest, on July 3, 2013.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Workers prepare fireworks on a barge on Seattle's Lake Union on Wednesday, July 3, 2013.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Fireworks explode over Lake Union during the Seafair Summer Fourth event on July 4, 2013, as seen from Gas Works Park in Seattle.JORDAN STEAD/SEATTLEPI.COM
Katy Bigelow from Seattle Parks and Recreation works on cleanup in 2001 at Gas Works Park after Fourth of July fireworks on Lake Union.Phil H. Webber/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
July 4, 2013 � Smartphone screens mirror the colors of fireworks exploding over Lake Union during the Seafair Summer Fourth event as seen from Gas Works Park. (Jordan Stead, seattlepi.com)JORDAN STEAD/seattlepi.com file photo
Adam Clobes and Jeff Thompson have fun as
Mansi Kalokhe looks on during the Seafair Summer Fourth celebration at Gas Works Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Tens of thousands came out for the annual firework show on Lake Union.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Ty Campbell paints a patriotic design on Pearl Nguyen's face during Fourth of July celebrations at Gas Works Park, Monday, July 4, 2016.GENNA MARTIN/SEATTLEPI.COM
Alwin Paul hangs out during Fourth of July celebrations, Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at Gasworks Park.GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM
Scenes from Fourth of July celebrations, Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at Gasworks Park.GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM
Liori Jordan, 8, dances to music from Paris Alexa as people gather for Fourth of July celebrations, Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at Gasworks Park.GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM
Red, white and blue footwear was worn by a napping couple during Fourth of July celebrations at Gas Works Park, Monday, July 4, 2016.GENNA MARTIN/SEATTLEPI.COM
Fourth of July celebratory fireworks brighten the night sky over Elliott Bay. Other fireworks displays could be seen by crowds last night over Lake Union.Grant M. Haller/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Star-spangled from head to toe, Kristina Stark and Mark Desens pose for a photo during Fourth of July celebrations at Gas Works Park, Monday, July 4, 2016.
GENNA MARTIN/SEATTLEPI.COM
Scenes from Fourth of July celebrations, Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at Gasworks Park.GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM
Kensei Uo, 5, hula hoops with other kids during Fourth of July celebrations at Gas Works Park, Monday, July 4, 2016.GENNA MARTIN/SEATTLEPI.COM
One Reel crew members work to inflate a life-size head of the Statue of Liberty on Friday, July 1, 2011 at Gas Works Park in Seattle. Crews started setting up at the park for the Family 4th at Lake Union firework show.JOSHUA TRUJILLO
Scenes from Fourth of July celebrations, Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at Gasworks Park.GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM
Spectators are illuminated by a television light during the Seafair Summer Fourth at Gas Works Park. Tens of thousands of people packed the park during the annual firework display. Hundreds of thousands watched from surrounding neighborhoods. Photographed on Friday, July 4, 2014.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Fireworks explode over Lake Union during the Seafair Summer Fourth at Gas Works Park. Tens of thousands of people packed the park during the annual firework display. Hundreds of thousands watched from surrounding neighborhoods. Photographed on Friday, July 4, 2014.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Jake Kathan helps a guest try slack lining during the Seafair Summer Fourth at Gas Works Park. Tens of thousands of people packed the park in anticipation of the annual firework display. Photographed on Friday, July 4, 2014.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Skydiver Lance Aikins comes in hot for a landing at Gas Works Park during the Seafair Summer Fourth at Gas Works Park. Tens of thousands of people packed the park in anticipation of the annual firework display. Photographed on Friday, July 4, 2014.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Fireworks explode over Lake Union during the Seafair Summer Fourth event Thursday, July 4, 2013, as seen from Gas Works Park in Seattle, Wash.JORDAN STEAD/SEATTLEPI.COM
Kyung Kulee, 80, waits to take the oath of citizenship during the 30th annual July 4th Naturalization Ceremony at Fisher Pavilion. 429 new US citizens took the oath during the ceremony. Photographed onFriday, July 4, 2014.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Launch tubes are shown as workers prepare fireworks on a barge on Seattle's Lake Union. The fireworks will light up the sky for the Seafair Summer Fourth of July celebration, the largest fireworks show in the Pacific Northwest. Photographed on Wednesday, July 3, 2013.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Fireworks explode on Monday, July 4, 2011 at Gas Works Park during the Family 4th on Lake Union in Seattle.JOSHUA TRUJILLO
Fireworks explode over Lake Union on July 4, 2012. The 21-minute show cost roughly $150,000.LINDSEY WASSON
The crowd gathers before the fireworks show at Gas Works Park in Seattle on the Fourth of July.Mike Kane/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
With the downtown Seattle skyline twinkling, fireworks explode over Elliott Bay one of the city's two major Fourth of July shows.Karen Ducey/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Fourth of July fireworks from Lake Union Park in Seattle. Monday, July 4, 2011JOE DYER
Isabel Hernandez, of Mexico, tears up during a Naturalization Ceremony, Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at Fisher Pavilion. Five hundred and six people from 67 different countries were naturalized as United States citizens. (Genna Martin, seattlepi.com)
GENNA MARTIN/SEATTLEPI
Spectators watch fireworks during the Seafair Summer Fourth celebration at Gas Works Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Tens of thousands came out for the annual firework show on Lake Union.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Skydivers from Skydive Kapowsin swoop into Gas Works Park.
JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Fireworks explode during the Seafair Summer Fourth celebration at Gas Works Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Tens of thousands came out for the annual firework show on Lake Union.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
People cool off in the water during the Seafair Summer Fourth celebration at Gas Works Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Tens of thousands came out for the annual firework show on Lake Union.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Danny Burgoyne of Canada shows his enthusiasm for the United States during the Seafair Summer Fourth celebration at Gas Works Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Tens of thousands came out for the annual firework show on Lake Union.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Fireworks explode during the Seafair Summer Fourth celebration at Gas Works Park on Saturday, July 4, 2015. Tens of thousands came out for the annual firework show on Lake Union.JOSHUA TRUJILLO/SEATTLEPI.COM
Fireworks explode over Lake Union during the Seafair Summer Fourth event Thursday, July 4, 2013, as seen from Gas Works Park in Seattle, Wash.JORDAN STEAD/SEATTLEPI.COM
Though fireworks have been banned within Seattle city limits for the past 26 years, that doesn't stop Seattleites from enjoying the explosive annual Independence Day tradition in any way they can.
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In recent years, that means crowds lining the hills of Gas Works Park to watch the city sponsored display over Lake Union.
