What was the occasion for the surprise fireworks display in SF over the weekend?
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A massive professional fireworks show rattled San Francisco on Saturday, catching many by surprise, wondering what the occasion was.
While many enjoyed watching from their roof, plenty of people were frustrated that they had no heads-up about the 12-plus minute professional fireworks display along the Embarcadero Saturday night.
It wasn't for a Giants game (that was Friday), and obviously not 4th of July or New Year's.
"Right near Coit Tower, I saw a lot of smoke and some big explosions and I didn't know what to think at first," said Aaron Ekroth.
"I live at the top of Russian Hill and windows just started rattling, kind of took us off guard," said Aaron Feldner.
The fireworks show wasn't listed anywhere because it was for a private event taking place at Pier 27.
The event was the 50th anniversary of a software company called Computers and Structures, Inc., according to the Port of San Francisco.
"Yeah, I don't like the fact that a private individual can just have something that's so disruptive," said Frank Taylor. "I mean, everybody here has a dog. I mean, I have a dog. My dog was freaking out."
MORE: Fireworks, drone shows light up Bay Area skies on 4th of July
Taylor was awakened Saturday evening to what he described as the "loudest boom" he had ever heard.
One neighbor who lives near Coit Tower told ABC7 that when the fireworks started going off he actually witnessed coyotes running down the hill trying to get away.
The display was something to see, though. Pat Dyas of Pyro Spectaculars produced the show.
"This display was commensurate in dollars to a large public display that would be seen perhaps on New Year's in San Francisco, except instead of being performed in 20 minutes, it was performed in just over 12 min," said Dyas.
The Port of San Francisco says it's considering ways to increase transparency with the public about Port-licensed fireworks shows. Those ABC7 talked with are in favor of that.
"That's something I would really support, especially with the new administration in place," said Ekroth. "I think it would be helpful if there are going to be municipal-level celebrations like that to at least have the public have some kind of access to the information about what's going to be happening if it's going to affect their slumber or enjoyment of the neighborhood."
"We would possibly even try to get out of the city if that was the case," said Roalla Toy, who was with her dog when we spoke with her. "He was quite scared and needed to be comforted."
Dyas says there is always a concern that knowledge of the event would bring thousands of additional people to what is a private party in San Francisco.
"Needless to say, on behalf of my company Pyro Spectaculars, we apologize for any inconvenience to any members of the public," said Dyas. "We very much wish that y'all could have been invited, but it's just the nature of the business."
The Port says people can sign up for notifications about private fireworks shows and other waterfront events.
After our story on the fireworks aired, CSI, the company that held the private event, issued this statement about the fireworks:
Nearly 1,500 people gathered at Pier 27 in San Francisco on Saturday, May 17, 2025, to celebrate the structural engineering profession. The black-tie gala, hosted by Computers and Structures, Inc., featured elaborate food, hosted bars, live entertainment, two bands, pyrotechnics, and a fireworks show unlike any fireworks show that had ever been seen before in San Francisco. The fireworks' thunderous booms had scores of people throughout San Francisco and the East Bay Area (and across the social media platform, X) wondering what the occasion was.
CSI's founder and CEO, Ashraf Habibullah, said he wanted to throw a party not only to celebrate his company's 50th anniversary, but to recognize and thank all of the individuals who helped the company grow to what it is today.
"Structural engineers are the reason why buildings don't topple over in windstorms and bridges don't fall down during earthquakes. They are literally saving lives every time the wind blows or the earth shakes. Structural engineers are the true heroes of modern society. Structural engineering is a profession that not only makes life better for humanity on a daily basis but preserves and protects progress and prosperity for all of us today and for countless generations to come. It's a profession that deserves to be celebrated!"
Founded in 1975, Computers and Structures, Inc. (CSI) is recognized globally as the pioneering leader in software tools for structural and earthquake engineering. Software from CSI is used by thousands of engineering firms in over 160 countries for the design of major projects, including the San Francisco Oakland Bay bridge and the tallest buildings in the world, such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Freedom tower in New York.
