KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Green Cove Springs’ temporary l oss turned out to be Keystone Heights’ gain on New Year’s Eve. A fter failing to secure the necessary approvals …
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KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Green Cove Springs’ temporary loss turned out to be Keystone Heights’ gain on New Year’s Eve.
After failing to secure the necessary approvals for a massive fireworks display on the final night of 2025 in Spring Park, North Florida Pyrotechnics said it’s still prepared to light the skies above Lake Geneva at the Keystone Heights Historic Pavilion to culminate the city’s centennial celebration.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to work in Keystone because the water levels have been so low,” said NFP President Ryan Allen. “We can put our barges in there now, so it’s going to be the biggest show they’ve ever had. It’s going to be a heck of a show.”
Presented by the Friends of Keystone Heights, the festivities are free and are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be live music from Second Chance and food vendors.
Allen said he started negotiating with Friends of Keystone Heights in August, and the deal was struck in October, which was plenty of time for city officials to approve the plan.
“They were working on their budget back then, and we were able to hash out the details.”
There were talks for private businesses to sponsor a massive performance at Spring Park in Green Cove Springs on New Year’s Eve, but those discussions didn’t materialize until October. That didn’t give the city council enough time to examine the program.
“We are going to have a New Year’s Eve show at Spring Park, but it won’t be until 2026,” Allen said. “I will file the permits on the first of January.”
Allen’s Green Cove Springs-based company has been busy during the holidays. He said NFP performed four shows last weekend, and they’re scheduled to perform four fireworks displays – Keystone Heights, two shows in Polk County and one in the Florida Panhandle – on New Year’s Eve.
Allen’s company also provides fireworks shows for Riverfest in Green Cove Springs and the American Pride Fourth of July celebration at Moosehaven.
“I know I’ll be doing the show in Keystone,” Allen said. “It’s going to be the biggest one they’ve ever seen.”
And the perfect way to wrap up the city’s 100th birthday party.
