From Catholic feasts to independence day and from Christmas to New Year’s Eve, fireworks are a major part of holiday celebrations in Costa Rica. The 2013 holiday season, however, has been marked by a strict crackdown on unsafe fireworks by law enforcement agencies and public health officials. Now even the iconic Zapote fairgrounds will be devoid of fireworks.

As reported on Christmas Eve by Lady Rojas of online news daily CRHoy.com, the Ministry of Public Health did not issue a permit to set off fireworks at the bullring in Zapote. This has been a major disappointment for many Ticos who purchase tickets for the Toros a la Tica “bullfights” just for the fireworks display. “Bullfights” in Costa Rica are actually a cross between a North American rodeo and the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona.

According to a health official quoted by CRHoy.com, the decision to not allow fireworks at Zapote this year was made after inspections by technicians as well as pyrotechnics and ballistics specialists from Fuerza Publica, Costa Rica’s national police force. It was determined that the bullring had inadequate conditions for a fireworks display, which is one of the traditions that make the Zapote holiday fair very appealing to families.

Zapote fair organizers had planned to set off about 7,000 fireworks on each night that the bullfights take place. The lack of fireworks, however, will not stop the holiday fun. Toros a la Tica are still on, and so are the carnival rides, food stalls, beer emporiums, live music, games, prizes, dancing, and more.

Tatiana Gutierrez from CRHoy.com recently checked on the safety aspect at the Zapote fairgrounds and found that operators of food stalls, game booths and kiosks selling trinkets and toys are satisfied with the presence of Fuerza Publica officers, who are conducting foot patrols day and night. When the fairgrounds open in the morning, 40 officers report for duty; at night, there are 50 officers on patrol.