How to do the grand event!

In fireworks land the theme is low and slow at first and fast and furious at the end.

It gets dark enough for the show about 9:30 on the 4 TH.  Safety Scott advises you always have a 5 gallon bucket of water, a garden hose and fire extinguisher at all times and a first aid kit. 

All day on the 4 TH you shoot off firecrackers, parachutes, snap pops, smoke balls, novelties like race cars, chickens and hens, etc.

Sometime you need to set up your plywood for the big stuff at 9:30.  A really good display needs to sheets of plywood or a really big driveway or cul-de-sac.  You will need a flashlight and we use a torch to light our stuff--the kind with an electric trigger.  While it's still daylight, find all the fuses on all your toys and most are clearly marked.  But, when it's dark, they are suddenly hard to find.  Figure out your grand finale.  You want it to be awesome and this may take some time.  Usually you have another place just for the grand finale and you'll fuse it together. Dishonest Don's sells fuse.     If you bought a big string of firecrackers, the hang them from a tree or fence before it gets dark or otherwise before the dew sets.  The biggest mistake in lighting the big rolls is not keeping them off the ground, although they should be fine on paved areas.......However, they are louder hung.  If you bought a pin wheel, you need to have a post.  Our pinwheels come with the nail you need, so you'll need a hammer.

Between 8:30 to 9:30, have the wife and kids to sparklers and night time parachutes while you set up your display.  Arrange your display with fountains at first and build up to the big stuff.   Save some of the bigger fountains for later during your show.  They do a great job of filling in when you can't see where to light the fuses.  If you find your display making the crowd bored, then light a 50,000 string of firecrackers to buy time.  A simple roll of firecrackers will save your butt every time.

Start your show at 9:30.  Start with fountains and work your way up to the finish.  Don't forget the pin wheels, the string of firecrackers and save the larger fountains to fill in.

Probably the best advise is not to try to bag up the spent fireworks the night of the 4 TH.  Most fire accidents are caused by spent fireworks put in a truck or a bag, only to catch fire an hour later.  When you shoot them off, knock the spent ones into the grass and worry about the mess on the 5 TH.....