There will be no fireworks display in Lantzville on Oct. 31, with the fire department deciding to cancel it indefinitely, citing concerns about the location and weather. (Image Credit: Dreamstime)

By Jordan Davidson

no fireworks

‘Too many issues:’ Lantzville Fire Rescue cancels annual Halloween fireworks display

Oct 15, 2026 | 5:33 AM

LANTZVILLE — A long-standing mid-Island tradition of an official Halloween fireworks won’t be happening for the foreseeable future.

The Lantzville Volunteer Firefighters Association announced on social media on Monday, Oct. 12, their annual fireworks display on Oct. 31 won’t be taking place this year, officially putting an end to the 30-year tradition.

Lantzville Fire Rescue chief Neil Rukus said several factors led to this decision, including provincial fire bans being lifted later and later in the year.

“We’ve just decided not to do them based on the area that we used to do them out in the school field. There now is a daycare built in that area, so we’re unable to launch them from the school field. And then we’ve just run into too many issues with weather for October 31st of doing them off the water as well. We scrapped them for last year, and the year before was very close to having to shut them down again.”

Firework use is only allowed within the District of Lantzville on Halloween night, from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. with the proper permits, with the sale of fireworks still prohibited.

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Rukus said he thinks the department is done hosting them for now, but it doesn’t mean it could be brought back in the future if a better location is found.

Other barriers include difficulty in acquiring the proper permits from the local municipality to set off the commercial-grade light show, Rukus said.

“Realize that the general public does like the fireworks presentation that’s put on, but we’re really just we’re having a hard time finding a place that we can do it that’s safe away from the community. With it being cancelled kind of last minute, that’s hard for us as well, having to go out and purchase those fireworks and then have to return them once we’ve had a cancelled event.”

Rukus said they’re still putting their heads together to try and organize a replacement event for Halloween next year, but for 2026, things are still up in the air.

“The firefighters will be out there on Halloween night throughout the community, and we’re not exactly sure what that’s going to look like, if it’s going to be doing hot dogs or handing out candy to the kids, but the fire department will definitely be out there doing something still.”

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by Jordan Davidson

‘Too many issues:’ Lantzville Fire Rescue cancels annual Halloween fireworks display

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