Savin Rock Fireworks Light Up West Haven Shoreline

Written by Michael P. Walsh

WEST HAVEN, CT — West Haven Youth Soccer League President John Vinci flipped a light switch to launch the Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular on July 5.

The moment Vinci flipped the switch, fireworks blasted off Bradley Point and exploded over Long Island Sound, dazzling thousands of patriotic revelers along West Haven’s 3 miles of public beaches with a display of brilliant lighting and booming sound effects.

The half-hour pyrotechnic show, presented by the Savin Rock Fireworks Committee, was postponed from July 3 because of thunderstorms.

Vinci, the city’s 2022 Italian American of the Year and an ardent fireworks supporter, was joined onstage in front of West Haven’s prominent Savin Rock landmark by master of ceremonies Brian Hayden.

Hayden, a program coordinator at the Department of Parks and Recreation, greeted the Savin Rock crowd and thanked city departments and committee members, including co-Chairwomen Sandy McCauley and Marianne Drapeau, for helping to organize the large-scale event.

He then led the crowd in a spirited countdown — “5, 4, 3, 2, 1!” — before Vinci flipped the switch and triggered an assortment of rockets that flew and burst over Bradley Point in a shower of colored sparks.

Just offstage, Vinci’s family — wife Joanne, son Chris, daughter-in-law Colleen and grandson Christian — looked on as the fireworks went off with a bang.

Before the display, families and friends danced to horn-powered party hits performed by Rubber City on the Savin Rock stage.

During the afternoon, people enjoyed a craft fair on the east side of the Rock while bands — five in all — from West Haven’s Rock House School of Music performed onstage.

As the music played, a fleet of food and dessert trucks lined the westbound lane of Captain Thomas Boulevard, near Dyke Street, and dished up burgers, hot dogs, pizza, fried dough and tacos, as well as ice cream and kettle corn.

Police closed Captain Thomas Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, from Kelsey Avenue to South Street, for several hours to give the festivities a block party feel.

The city has not hosted the fireworks on July 3 since 2019 and will try again next July 3, organizers said.

The display is the city’s largest one-day event, attracting tens of thousands of residents and visitors to the West Haven shoreline each year.

Rockets explode over West Haven’s Bradley Point in a shower of red, white and blue sparks at the Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular on Wednesday, July 5. The half-hour pyrotechnic show, presented by the Savin Rock Fireworks Committee, was postponed from Monday, July 3, because of thunderstorms. (City Drone Photos/Andrew Kosarko, Courtesy of Jow Films LLC)

West Haven Youth Soccer League President John Vinci, left, prepares to flip a light switch to launch the fireworks from a portable stage in front of Savin Rock as master of ceremonies Brian Hayden fires up the crowd. Hayden is a program coordinator at the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Food and dessert trucks dish up eats and sweets in the westbound lane of Captain Thomas Boulevard, near Dyke Street. Police closed Captain Thomas Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, from Kelsey Avenue to South Street, for several hours to give the festivities a block party feel. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Guitarist/vocalist Johnny “Blues” McCarthy, drummer Melody McCarthy and bassist Ryan Morton of Ghouls Etc. entertain partygoers before the fireworks. The group was among a handful of bands from West Haven’s Rock House School of Music that played in the afternoon. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

The festive crowd at the Savin Rock stage. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Rubber City performs a two-hour set of horn-powered party hits. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

An aerial view of Savin Rock Park. (City Drone Photo/Andrew Kosarko, Courtesy of Jow Films LLC)

From left, West Haven Human Resources Commissioner Beth A. Sabo pauses with West Haven Youth Soccer League President John Vinci, emcee Brian Hayden and Vinci’s wife, Joanne. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Families and friends gather for great music — and great fireworks, of course. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Jace, 12, of Milford, waves a miniature American flag before the start of the fireworks. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

Savin Rock Fireworks Committee co-Chairwomen Sandy McCauley, onstage left, and Marianne Drapeau, onstage right, are joined by fellow committee members to thank and applaud the many contributors and sponsors for supporting this year’s display. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

(City Drone Photo/Andrew Kosarko, Courtesy of Jow Films LLC)

This press release was produced by the City of West Haven. The views expressed here are the author’s own.