No Fireworks? No Problem. Alaskans Celebrate Fourth of July by Launching Cars Off a Cliff

For years, Alaskans have been gathering on the Fourth of July for a unique and destructive tradition known as the “Glacier View Car Launch.” While most towns and cities in America celebrate the holiday with fireworks displays, local bans on pyrotechnics make it illegal throughout much of the state. The alternative? Launching junkyard vehicles off a 300-foot cliff into an old quarry.

The display is nothing short of a demolition extravaganza.

In 2025, the event was captured in 4K from a drone’s POV, which followed the cars as they soared into thin air, plummeting into the valley below. The spectators cheer for the carnage unfolding before them. Then, when it’s all said and done, everyone cleans up the debris and shrapnel together to minimize environmental harm.

Check out the video to see this past year’s highlights.

Runtime: 1:12 minutes