93,000 People and Counting Demand End to Niagara Falls’ 151-Night Firework Blitz; PETA Urges City Council Action

For Immediate Release:
May 4, 2026

Contact:
Andrew Grant 202-483-7382

With more than 93,000 people pleading with the Niagara Falls Tourism board to stop terrorizing animals and residents with 151 nights of ear‑shattering fireworks over the falls, PETA sent a letter to Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati and members of the City Council, calling on them to step in and ban fireworks within city limits.

In the letter, PETA asks the council to at the very least dramatically reduce the number of nights fireworks are allowed, pointing out that fireworks terrify wildlife; torment veterans, survivors of shootings, and other individuals with PTSD; dump toxic chemicals into the air, water, and soil; and the barrage of explosions can send panicked cats and dogs fleeing their homes in fear.

“The continuous thunderous fireworks have somehow made it hard for the Niagara Falls Tourism board to hear the tens of thousands of people demanding an end to these relentless blasts,” says PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is urging the Niagara Falls City Council to intervene and put a stop to the nightly explosions that terrorize and traumatize animals.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Mayor Diodati and the City Council follows.

4 May 2026

His Worship Jim Diodati, Mayor of Niagara Falls

Members of the Niagara Falls City Council

Dear Mayor Diodati and Council Members:

I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 10.4 million members and supporters globally, including many thousands across Ontario—ahead of Niagara Falls Tourism’s Summer Fireworks Series, which will again include nightly fireworks from mid-May through Canadian Thanksgiving. We respectfully urge you to consider banning fireworks within city limits so that companion animals, wildlife, and noise-sensitive humans such as veterans with PTSD can experience a quieter, cleaner, and less stressful summer. Allow me to elaborate.

For animals, the loud booms and sudden flashes of light from fireworks can be perceived as a threat—with devastating consequences. Songbirds have been known to abandon their nests or collide with buildings and each other, while waterfowl may panic and fly to dangerously high altitudes for long periods, leaving them exhausted and vulnerable. Frightened wildlife like deer have run onto roadways and even ripped out their antlers while trying to flee. Terrified dogs and cats often attempt to escape the noise by breaking through doors, fences, or windows. For those living in the Niagara Falls area, this nightmare will occur for 151 consecutive nights this summer.

The stress caused by fireworks is not limited to animals: The bangs, bright flashes, and smoke can trigger veterans with PTSD causing flashbacks, panic attacks, sleeplessness, and anxiety. Fireworks also produce smoke and dust laden with toxic particles that harm the respiratory systems of humans and other animals.

For years, we have urged Niagara Falls Tourism to switch to alternatives that everyone can enjoy, such as innovative laser light shows and drone displays, and more than 93,000 disapproving and distressed members of the public have also appealed to the organization, to no avail.

Niagara Falls already has so much to offer that it doesn’t need this harmful gimmick to attract tourists. At the very least, we implore you to pass legislation to significantly reduce the number of nights these displays are allowed.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Ingrid Newkirk

Founder