Oak Harbor Chamber Apologizes After New Year’s Eve Fireworks Cancellation

On Dec. 29 the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce posted to Facebook and issued a press release canceling its New Year’s Eve fireworks show, citing “the rising cost of producing the event, coupled with a continued decline in funding.” The late communication prompted heavy criticism on social media, multiple emails to the News-Times from disappointed residents and regional media attention. Chamber Executive Director Eric Marshall apologized for the timing and said he regretted not making the rationale clear sooner.

Marshall said the fireworks would have cost the chamber $20,000 on top of staffing wages, and that the chamber’s analysis did not show the 20-minute show generated significant tourism revenue for local businesses. He cited data from Datafy, a tourism data service associated with Whidbey Camano Island Tourism, to support that assessment and noted that lodging-tax funding does not qualify for New Year’s Eve events when there is no street fair or food vendors. With sponsorships absent, the chamber board decided in the summer to cancel the event.

The cancellation has local implications on several fronts. Small-business owners and former chamber leaders have criticized the organization’s communication and event planning, saying the late notice reflects broader problems that have affected other events. Residents also pointed to turnover in chamber leadership; Oak Harbor has had three executive directors in four years, a fact residents say undermines confidence in consistent community engagement.

Marshall framed the decision as aligned with the chamber’s core purpose. He said the show simply did not “fit with the chamber’s mission,” and accepted responsibility for the lapse in public communication: “Where I dropped the ball, and I take full responsibility of this, is I didn’t make sure that was communicated to the public at that time,” he said. “It wasn’t intentional deception.” He added the chamber remains committed to transparency and community support and suggested the public could organize and fund a New Year’s Eve display independently, with the chamber available to help with connections.

The chamber emphasized it will continue events that it judges deliver clear business benefits, citing its Fourth of July fireworks, which draws about 21,000 attendees. For local policymakers and business owners, the episode highlights trade-offs between community traditions and measurable economic return, the constraints of lodging-tax rules, and the importance of timely communication from quasi-public organizations that organize civic events.

Marshall also said much of the online anger had been misdirected at the city, and that he would consider hosting community chats to answer questions if there is interest. The cancellation leaves a gap in year-end festivities and underscores ongoing debates in Island County over how to fund public celebrations and how civic organizations demonstrate accountability to residents.