327 Fireworks Calls Came In Over The 4th Of July Weekend And Not One Ticket Was Issued in Sioux Falls

If you spent the Fourth of July weekend in Sioux Falls wondering whether your neighbors had secretly opened a fireworks stand in their garage, you're probably not alone.

What's crazy is the Sioux Falls Police say fireworks-related calls were actually down this year; my first reaction upon hearing that was, "Seriously?" For a while Saturday night, I was convinced the Sioux Falls Jaycees had relocated their annual fireworks show to my neighbor's driveway.

Like many neighborhoods across the Sioux Empire, mine doesn't exactly believe in the "less is more" concept when it comes to celebrating Independence Day. Somewhere around sunset, the lawn chairs come out, the bug spray goes on, and suddenly everyone seems to have enough fireworks to rival a small-town community display.

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Now don't get the wrong idea, I love pyrotechnics just as much as the next guy, but at 1:23 in the morning, not so much! Especially when you have dogs that start barking every time someone lights a simple sparkler.

I have no idea what my neighbors spend on pyrotechnics every July, but judging by the nonstop explosions, colorful aerial shells, and the occasional blast that rattled the windows, it's safe to say they aren't clipping coupons before heading to the fireworks stand. They were launching some commercial-grade stuff that could have given the grand finale at the Washington, D.C., National Mall a run for its money!

Despite what many Sioux Falls residents may have experienced from their backyards, Sioux Falls Police actually handled fewer fireworks complaints than they did last year.

According to Dakota News Now, officers responded to 327 fireworks-related calls between July 3 and July 5. The breakdown included:

• 54 calls on July 3
• 178 calls on the Fourth of July
• 95 calls on July 5

That's down slightly from the 350 fireworks calls received during the same holiday period in 2025.

Perhaps the most surprising statistic? Police didn't issue a single fireworks citation over the three-day holiday weekend.

Sounds like the PD took it easy on residents this year, after all; America was turning 250 years old, that's a good reason to party.

In the end, lots of warnings, no tickets. Sometimes a friendly reminder is enough to convince someone that launching another mortar shell at 1:30 in the morning might not be the best way to stay on your neighbor Fred's Christmas card list.

Then again, the slight drop in complaints could mean people are becoming more mindful about when and where they light fireworks. Or maybe everyone was simply too busy watching the next backyard grand finale to make a phone call.

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Either way, the numbers suggest Sioux Falls residents managed to celebrate America's 250th birthday with a little less drama than in years past, even if it didn't always sound that way.