Bogus Basin cancels its annual fireworks show, New Year’s celebrations. Here’s why.
Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area won’t host its annual New Year’s Day fireworks show this year, citing staff illness and extremely cold temperatures as factors in the cancellation.
The Boise-area mountain typically holds its Torchlight Parade on New Year’s Day, followed by a fireworks show. Susan Saad, director of community and customer relations at Bogus, said the event cancellation “was largely employee related.”
In an email, Saad told the Idaho Statesman that “there has been an uptick in the number of individuals who are reporting symptoms” during daily health screenings. As a precaution, she said, those individuals are being tested for COVID-19 and have been asked to stay home until results are confirmed.
Saad said the majority of Bogus Basin employees are vaccinated and all workers are required to wear masks indoors.
Forecasts calling for extreme cold weather also made the events a safety concern.
“This event typically draws a large non-skiing and snowboarding crowd who may be unprepared to spend time outside in the extreme cold,” Saad said in a news release Tuesday.
The National Weather Service is forecasting daytime temperatures in the teens on Saturday, with evening temperatures falling even lower. Saad said temperatures could reach single digits.
Normal Bogus Basin operations will continue as usual on Saturday, with lifts running from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 12:46 PM.
