Organizers Blame Sandy Storm Damage For Canceled Seaside Heights Fireworks Show

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A big wave canceled the fireworks show at Seaside Heights Saturday night.

CBS2's Hazel Sanchez reported Superstorm Sandy may be to blame.

The Fourth of July fireworks at the Seaside Heights boardwalk were billed to be big.

"We got here and it was packed," said spectator Lisa Vizzone. "Everybody was on the boardwalk. The kids. Everybody was in their chairs and waiting. And then the disappointment."

Then the show was canceled.

"It was kind of disappointing," said James D'Onofrio. "I was upset because we were out in the cold just waiting."

Organizer Michael Graichen says the show was called off because huge waves went above a protective berm and soaked the fireworks.

"We didn't realize we had a full moon this past weekend and when the high tide came in and it came in much higher," Graichen said. "So went over the berm and into the fireworks."

Graichen says this year's fireworks were closer to the surf than usual to meet safety regulations on distance between spectators and the fireworks. He says storm beach erosion leaves little room for error.

One of the biggest problems is that Sandy took half of the beach away, Graichen noted. And it's just starting to build up now.

The fireworks were rescheduled for Sunday, but high winds forced organizers to cancel the show again.

Organizers promise the miscalculation will never happen again, Sanchez reported.

They plan to make up for it during their weekly fireworks show this Wednesday. They say it will be bigger and better than before.