When the Pace High Patriots took the field Friday night to face the visiting Pensacola Catholic High Crusaders, there were cheers and screams to the school’s fight song and fireworks.
And just like that – a 31-year tradition of shooting off fireworks at Pace home football games continued – just not on the school’s campus.
Steve House-Gregory, who shoots off the fireworks, was on county-owned land near the school where fans could still see the display.
But this almost didn’t happen.
Citing concerns about liability, Santa Rosa County District Schools no longer allows fireworks or pyrotechnics on district property. The policy went into effect Aug. 1 and applies to all school events, booster clubs and outside groups using district facilities.
House-Gregory and some residents, including former Pace football coach Kent Smith, asked Santa Rosa School Board members to reconsider the decision at the Aug. 7 meeting, without success.
The Santa Rosa County Board of Commissioners saved the day, however, by approving House-Gregory’s request to use county land with a holding pond near the Pace Library for the fireworks show.
That same night, House-Gregory shot off fireworks during the Patriots Kickoff Classic.
“The moment the first fireworks went off, the crowd erupted in cheers. It was fantastic. They loved them,” House-Gregory recalled.
Fireworks light up the sky as the Patriots take the field for the football game against Pensacola Catholic at Pace High School on Aug. 29, 2025.
On Friday morning, Aug. 29, he said he expected even more excitement at the first home game of the season that night – especially since the Patriots were playing the Crusaders, longtime rivals.
“It’s going to be a big crowd tonight. In the past, this game has always drawn a lot of fans who love the Patriots and seeing the fireworks,” Foster said.
The display is sponsored by Pace High’s supporting organizations such as the Quarterback Club, which pays $4,000 to $5,000 for the fireworks each year.
House-Gregory, who has been managing the fireworks for the past six years, said the community was extremely supportive of his efforts.
“We received numerous calls from parents, students and businesses thanking us for staying true to this tradition,” he said. “We cannot thank the Santa Rosa County commissioners enough for allowing us to continue the fireworks tradition.”
The school district said the decision to not allow fireworks or pyrotechnics was made in coordination with local fire officials and is based on National Fire Protection Association codes, state legislation, Florida School Board Insurance Trust liability concerns, and the lack of proper safety setbacks on school campuses.
Alexandra Timmons, the district’s director of risk management, said the recommendation to change the policy was not made in haste and was an objective one regarding risk and liability exposure.
“Our Florida School Boards Insurance Trust is to prohibit (fireworks). They are not an exclusion, but their recommendation is to prohibit them. There’s great exposure to injury and we would assume a lot of that liability,” she told board members. “Our member districts in the trust do not allow fireworks and as a member of that insurance pool, we have a responsibility to mitigate the risks within our district because any claims that come to us, obviously, are part of that entire claims factor when they are looking for reinsurance.”
Timmons said even if a vendor provides appropriate liability insurance coverage and lists the school district as an additional insurant and certificate holder, the Santa Rosa School District could still be a named party in litigation.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pace High School football game fireworks will continue
