General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs it quiet in your neighborhood???
Last edited Fri Jul 4, 2025, 11:02 PM - Edit history (2)
The silence is eerie. In past years you could hear firecrackers go off sporadically during the days leading up to the 4th. Now, nothing - not one single noisemaker, no whining of whizzing sparklers. I don't even smell the smoke from the bar-b-que grills in the neighbors' yards.
Update: As of the original posting, no change other than 2 firecrackers going off. This is unusual.
Update #2: Nothing since last update. I am happy that it's quiet, but it's very odd.

skylucy
(3,956 posts)
Timewas
(2,482 posts)West coast here, way too early yet........
alwaysinasnit
(5,470 posts)of noise is highly unusual for this neighborhood.
bsiebs
(859 posts)A little north of you,it is now 9:30 and still no noise..really really odd
wcmagumba
(4,403 posts)
Ocelot II
(126,104 posts)LoisB
(11,117 posts)GenThePerservering
(2,951 posts)by the lake, but outside of that, it's very quiet. The streets are quiet, yards are still - I smell no BBQs going, and that's unusual as it's partly cloudy and low 70s, which is very nice weather here. The DH was riding his bike on the local trail and there were few others on it - usually it's thronged on a holiday. Not even a miscellaneous BANG!
Feels eerie.
We came over the Canadian border this morning back to Washington and there were very few there going into the US, but a mob going into Canada.
Silent Type
(10,522 posts)FalloutShelter
(13,595 posts)Sounds like open WW3 out there.
Morans.
pacalo
(24,780 posts)Our dog has been under the bed since 4 pm.
Hekate
(98,600 posts)Meanwhile, two houses have blown up that I know of, and one fireworks storage facility has burned down. Some people are missing.
electric_blue68
(22,468 posts)TnDem
(1,087 posts)Wall to wall fireworks all around me.
cachukis
(3,332 posts)Dusk parties in neighborhood so far. Family affairs. As of 9P.
Lovie777
(19,391 posts)Little after 6:00, partying down the street and fireworks are extremely loud. Got both my cats in the house.
Its not even dark. Plus the Blocks fireworks games will begin sundown. Plus house behind will start partying as well.
LOL
InAbLuEsTaTe
(25,396 posts)livetohike
(23,542 posts)It wasnt this crazy last year. This is not helping my headache.
Glen Livid
(9 posts)In a very liberal city and LOTS of fireworks. Dog is hiding ...
RockCreek
(1,039 posts)this evening. I'm in New England. Not quite as many people as I would have expected, but still plenty of groups, families, etc. But absolutely NO sign that it was the 4th there. It was just like a regular summer evening. Not what I would have expected on the 4th any other year. That made me very happy.
(And no ICE, other intimidation etc presence either).
johnp3907
(4,063 posts)Police were already here.
chowmama
(856 posts)And so far, there seems to be no change. We have both amateur grade and semi-professional grade fireworks, and a lot of them. Last night, we had a full professional-type rocket show at midnight just a few blocks away. As far as I know, there was no special event declared, so it was somebody just messing around.
A few years ago, somebody's rocket landed on a house across the street and burned it out. Two families put out of their homes. I'll be happy if there's no repeat of that.
And there's always an actual authorized show at Powderhorn Park, a few blocks away. Downtown is also visible and audible from our house. This all used to make Autumn the Chow positively hysterical. We ended up having the same ritual on all fireworks holidays - big, BIG bowl of buttered popcorn, tv, air conditioner and fan all at maximum, and everybody in the bedroom on the bed. When she got too stressed, we distracted her with the popcorn. Buttered popcorn wasn't good for her, but served well as doggie Valium. We got to sleep after bar time, generally.
We've been hearing the little booms and sizzles for the last week now.
misanthrope
(8,953 posts)was fer'ners or even worse was lib'ruls then that makes it more Murica! Yeehaw! You heard Trump, we're all supposed to hate Democrats now!"
Greg_In_SF
(386 posts)good here just north of Orlando.
Biophilic
(5,889 posts)The neighbors right behind have been going steadily for over an hour with just noise makers. Im in sw Florida. Im dog sitting for some friends so I dont know them. Idiots.
Tree Lady
(12,551 posts)My neighbor few doors down in court is having a huge swim party, at least 6 extra cars. I assume they will do fireworks for the kids or go to fairgrounds.
The parade I went to had a bunch of people walking in it that were protesting Trump. Lots of people there. College progressive town.
My adult kids and grandkids all at other relatives having fun, one lives on the water in WA and has boat.
We stayed home this year as far as family, our dog has been getting worse every year, got him sedatives this year.
milestogo
(21,344 posts)Mostly quiet, a few booms.
0rganism
(25,249 posts)Something's changed, the whole atmosphere is more funerary than festive.
0rganism
(25,249 posts)Almost pandemic levels of quiet lately.
RainCaster
(12,990 posts)The local hillbillies always celebrate the Fourth with Chinese fireworks bought from a reservation. That's how they show patriotism.
Midnight Writer
(24,375 posts)Around 9 PM he will put on one hell of a show.
I don't mind too much. It is only once per year and he is far enough away that my pets don't freak out as long as they stay in the house.
I don't bother to watch anymore. Fireworks are fun at first but after about 75 years of them they have become passe.
SheltieLover
(71,894 posts)Fucking magats.
Raine
(30,899 posts)jmbar2
(7,077 posts)I live in Newport on Yaquina Bay which is a couple of miles from where they will have the fireworks at about 10pm local time. People are starting to park along the jetty, not knowing that you can't actually see the fireworks from there.
What puzzles me is how many have brought their dogs. Most of the noise is from dogs barking. Seems cruel. Yaquina Bay is home to a lot of seabirds. The fireworks send them into panicked flying. I'm hoping that they go to drone displays next year. Maybe it will be less distressing to animals.
dflprincess
(28,932 posts)Just dusk here, but so far, quiet.
RandomNumbers
(18,779 posts)like they do EVERY year.
Every year I think about calling the cops, but don't. I have no idea if the cops would come but I'm pretty sure that it is illegal in this town to do what he is doing.
That shit is LOUD and I swear he aims at my house.
I presume he has his kid with him. I hope if someone loses fingers one year, it isn't the kid.
MustLoveBeagles
(13,481 posts)Lots of noise here. Our dogs are too terrified to go out.
avebury
(11,148 posts)Normally it would sound like you were in a battle zone.
HelpImSurrounded
(534 posts)There are some people setting off some fireworks but nothing like in the past. More notably, prior to today the mood has been subdued. Not as many buntings, the normal 4th of July prep was barely noticeable. I think the people settting off fireworks bought them early and just want to use them up. Honestly, given what today brought us if that restores some normalcy I won't begrudge them that.
Danmel
(5,501 posts)House of Roberts
(6,130 posts)Four cats are not reacting to the noise, and the two dogs aren't making any noise from the next bedroom, so far.
DET
(2,117 posts)Some relatively discrete fireworks in the neighborhood (Fairfax in NOVA) starting at 9:15 and lasting under an hour. Most people here know when to wrap it up, thank God.
SamKnause
(14,356 posts)Very odd.
Usually it is a 3 or 4 night affair.
Ilsa
(63,046 posts)country, but not much. Usually it goes on alot longer.
usedtobedemgurl
(1,775 posts)Even with calming chews, one of my pups is shaking and cuddled into me.
Rebl2
(16,704 posts)start hearing fireworks occasionally a couple weeks before the 4th. Not this year. A few earlier in the week -sporadically. Even today there werent many during the day like it would be normally, but tonight its become very noisy.
iemanja
(56,292 posts)MIButterfly
(879 posts)They must be farther away from me this year. The noise is not even bothering the cats. One is in my lap and the other one is lying on the arm of the couch to the left of me, both cool as cucumbers without a care in the world.
niyad
(125,335 posts)are illegal within the city limits, not that they, or the cops, care.
Omaha Steve
(106,399 posts)
electric_blue68
(22,468 posts)progressoid
(51,639 posts)electric_blue68
(22,468 posts)bif
(25,930 posts)Huge explosions plus the constant firecrackers. Been going on since around 9.
Jack Valentino
(2,838 posts)but we seem to like our fireworks here....
I thought this holiday would provide adequate cover for me
to assassinate the groundhog who has plundered my garden the past couple years with a SHOTGUN
(which would obviously be ignored within the current din, but is illegal to discharge within city limits),
but they don't come out at night (although may show at dusk, but not likely in the current noise),
and I seemed to have discouraged it with my previous use of a .177 pellet rifle,
(which I was inaccurately advised could kill it, but it is the Terminator among groundhogs, it keeps coming back)
I've hit it twice with my pellets, once in the head and once in the body---
but I had no wish to torture the animal, I just wanted it to DIE
(and YES, I tried numerous "non-violent remedies" against this animal, and none of them worked----
I became totally frustrated with it last year, when it pulled down 5 fairly large and STAKED sunflowers,
one each day until they were GONE.... and they mostly hadn't even started flowers yet,
it just liked the taste of them--- year before it obliterated my garden, except for tomato plants,
although many of those were also chewed)
I have nicknamed the groundhog "Trump".
As far as the fireworks go, I am on the north edge of the city,
close to what you might call "Trump country". Have no idea what has been going on
in the more urban parts of the city... but don't suspect there are many fireworks
being set off that actually "celebrate Trump"--- This is more just a habit for the holiday.
DET
(2,117 posts)You might enjoy Mousehunt, a 1997 movie starring Nathan Lane, Christopher Walken, and a devious mouse. Lane and Walken are two of my favorite actors and the movie is hilarious.
Jack Valentino
(2,838 posts)Thanks for the tip!
Skittles
(166,143 posts)I live in a metroplex and it is non-stop booming.
llmart
(16,644 posts)who lives in redneck MAGAt area. She said the following:
"The same people who have been griping about the price of eggs seem to have plenty of money to waste on lighting up noisemakers just to hear them go boom boom."
Texasgal
(17,233 posts)but, yeah... it's pretty quiet here this year as well. South Austin, TX.
SunSeeker
(56,171 posts)Ms. Toad
(37,341 posts)but in different patterns. More M-80s, fewer poppers.
W_HAMILTON
(9,351 posts)I am surprised at how few fireworks I've heard tonight. Almost forgot it was the Fourth...
Tribetime
(6,732 posts)I usually dread hearing the noises till one in the morning.But it was really nothing this year I was really dreading this year because it's a Friday which means probably Saturday and Sunday.They'll blow up also the point surprised at the silence
Gardenwitch
(6 posts)Just as many as always if not more here.
markodochartaigh
(3,387 posts)Usually holidays sound like war zones for at least 6-8 hours. It is 11:15 and so far there have only been sporadic fireworks. Maybe 20% of usual.
I think that the police cracked down a couple of weeks ago on the atv/golf cart/ebike riders. Kids 6-66 ride those in the streets and on wooded lots not obeying any laws. There are occasionally people killed and there was a 13 year old killed a few weeks ago. But suddenly there are almost none of those vehicles on the streets.
Also there was one house which had very, very loud Norteña music a half dozen times a month. This area has large lots and I guess that they hold parties there. Personally, I like the music, don't have to worry about getting enough sleep for work, and I live half a block away. But I can see how the neighbours closer might have a problem. Whatever happened I haven't heard that music in a couple of months.
All of these things, whether negative or positive, it is just unsettling not knowing what is happening. Oddly, the property market is almost dead here, but in the last two months three places on the street have sold to tech workers from California. Two are Malayali and one Russian.
orangecrush
(25,765 posts)progree
(12,104 posts)Since its kinda early still, I expect it to get worse shortly.
About the same as previous years I would guess. I think some crazy MAGAs are celebrating the One Big Ugly Bill and the deportations.
OldBaldy1701E
(8,427 posts)rollin74
(2,204 posts)And the night is still very young here
pnwmom
(109,979 posts)In the week leading up I haven't heard anything. And not tonight yet, either -- and it will be dark in another half hour.
misanthrope
(8,953 posts)Sounds like a war zone
patphil
(8,087 posts)The town fireworks display happened the same as it always has, on the open fields between the old high school and the fire department, about a quarter mile from my house.
Individual fireworks went off sporadically at houses around the neighborhood all through the evening.
There's at least one party still going on. I can hear the thump, thump, thump of the music at about 11:40PM.
You'd never know that Democracy took another big gut punch from the Republicans today.
mac56
(17,775 posts)Yokels.
sakabatou
(45,104 posts)BigmanPigman
(53,373 posts)Even as late as 12:15 AM. I usually hear Sea World fireworks at 9 PM every night but these are fireworks from other areas within downtown San Diego.
Ocelot II
(126,104 posts)Not too bothersome for me, since it's hot and I have the AC on and windows shut, but I'm sure there are some unhappy dogs in the neighborhood.
CanonRay
(15,440 posts)CentralMass
(16,341 posts)PufPuf23
(9,494 posts)Live in a National Forest and lots of locals like to shoot just for hell of it.
Fireworks are sold on nearby Reservation but some nearby bangs aren't the tame variety. Mostly gunfire. Supposedly illegal in National Forest.
There was what looked like could be a major fire less than an air mile from my house two days ago. An airdrop, two water dipping helicopters, and response by crews from two Tribes, CalFire and USFS thankfully caught what looked to me to be bad. Spent the last four Summers from late July on in smoke.
Retrograde
(11,201 posts)I'm about 2 miles from a heavily Hispanic area - Mexican immigrants and 1st generation Americans - and they usually celebrate vigorously on the 4th. Today, there's been hardly any noise. I don't know if it's fear of ICE, or the explosion at the fireworks factory earlier this week, but there have been a lot fewer fireworks than in previous years.
LS0999
(225 posts)It gives me some home that other people besides me are noticing the bs.
peacebuzzard
(5,614 posts)and I have pets.
It was quiet until I went to bed, of course. Then the idiot neighbors down the hill did their thing as usual; but it lasted less time and it was less spectacular.
bagimin
(1,585 posts)in S. Fl.
Politicub
(12,311 posts)And my friends have made the same observation about where they live.
librechik
(30,880 posts)There was nothing. Too quiet. I guess nobody wants a visit from the cops or la migra just for making noise on Independence day.
I didn't feel like celebrating our last Independence Day.
Conjuay
(2,585 posts)someone across the street was shooting off fairly loud mortars.