New Poll: Niagara Falls Fireworks May Be a Tourist Turnoff

With Niagara Falls Tourism’s 151-night Summer Fireworks Series now over, a survey conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by PETA suggests that Americans don’t need deafening fireworks to enjoy one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders. The Falls were breathtaking long before someone got the half-baked idea to throw explosives into the mix.

The verdict is in: 78% of U.S. adults agree that a nightly fireworks display would not be necessary for them to enjoy a visit to Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls’ Fireworks: A Tourist Turnoff?

For years, Niagara Falls officials have promoted fireworks as a way to entice tourists to stay overnight. But PETA’s survey blows a hole in the argument that the displays are needed to attract visitors.

More than three-quarters (76%) of U.S. adults say that, if they had to choose, the Falls’ existing nighttime illumination would be more likely than fireworks (24%) to encourage them to stay overnight. And 50% chose the illuminated Falls as the nighttime attraction they would find most interesting to view at night over the falls.

The fireworks may even discourage some visitors: 60% of U.S. adults say they would be at least somewhat likely to avoid visiting Niagara Falls if traveling with a companion animal who would be distressed by the nightly displays.

Among older Americans, the verdict is nearly unanimous: 93% of adults ages 65 and older agree they could enjoy Niagara Falls without fireworks.

These findings matter because American tourists account for nearly one in four of Niagara’s more than 13 million annual visitors.

For animals, fireworks aren’t entertainment. They’re terrifying explosions that can send dogs and cats bolting in panic. Some jump fences, break through windows and screen doors, or dash into traffic in a desperate attempt to escape. Others disappear and never reunite with their families.

Wildlife suffers, too. Frightened birds flee their nests, and deer and other animals may dart into roads, where vehicles can strike them. Fireworks also spew toxins—including lead, carbon monoxide, aluminum, and sulfur—into the environment, polluting the air that humans and other animals breathe.

The blasts can also traumatize veterans, survivors of shootings, and others with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The survey also found that 52% of U.S. adults would be at least somewhat likely to avoid visiting Niagara Falls if a human traveling companion were distressed by fireworks.

Why subject the area to a nightly barrage of explosions when the Falls themselves are already spectacular?

Tell Niagara Falls Tourism: Ditch the Fireworks!

Niagara Falls already dazzles visitors. Its breathtaking natural beauty and colorful nighttime lights offer a stunning spectacle without terrorizing animals.

Nearly 100,000 PETA supporters have already urged Niagara Falls Tourism to end the displays. Now it’s your turn.

Help protect dogs, cats, birds, and everyone else from the terrifying blasts. Urge Niagara Falls Tourism to ditch fireworks for good and let the Falls’ natural beauty take center stage.

Survey methodology: This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of PETA from July 14–July 15, 2026, among 2,001 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within ±2.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact PETA at [email protected].