From the time I was 16 years old, every year I’ve worked at a firework stand for a dear friend. The past several years I have run one of her locations for her. In those three weeks of being open for the Fourth of July, you learn a LOT about fireworks if you want to. I’ve always loved fireworks, so I soak up as much info as I can. Now that I run my own location, I have my family come and help run it with me when it gets busy.
Fireworks were always a big deal in our house. As children, we would save up our allowance, and bring our few measly dollars and coins, and sit in the floor of our local firework shop adding up our total, and counting our pennies. The firework stand owner would always throw in extras, and was super sweet. We’re older now, but we all still save up and go in together to get the most fireworks for the best Fourth of July show we can put on.
It can be confusing going in to a firework stand. Most people go in, stare at the rows and rows of fireworks, get sticker shock from the price tags, and leave confused at what they bought, and disappointed that your firework show was so short. Sound familiar? Since we’re pros, we decided we would share some inside tips at what to look for and how to make your show the best! Read on to see our best Firework Show Tips.
Buy 200 Grams
I know that makes zero sense. It’s okay, keep reading. So, the maximum amount of fire powder that can legally be sold residentially in a single firework is 500 grams. 500 gram fireworks are those big giant fireworks that are the expensive ones. Typically, they’re the firework you buy as you finale firework. People buy them, spend quite a bit of money on them, and then are disappointed that they were only a few big bursts and are over so quickly. Our Firework Show Tips ALWAYS include buying 200 grams. It’s not bad or wrong to buy the 500 grams, but at minimum pair it with a couple of 200 grams so your finale is a little more finale-ish. Really though, we just buy 200 grams. Our family of firework pros, only buys 200 grams in general, because they can pack a PUNCH! They may seem small, but they go up and burst just as high as some of the 500 grams. Read on to find out why…
Buy Heavy Fireworks
So, the trick to finding out what firework will be good or not, is most of the time as easy as picking it up to feel its weight. Heavier fireworks, in general, will go higher, and have bigger bursts than lighter ones. This is why 200 grams can sometimes seem more awesome than than the 500 grams. While the 500 grams may have more than twice the firepower, that firepower is also spread out across this huge firework. Fireworks that are packed tighter (meaning each shot is packed with more firepowder) will perform better as a rule. So, if the firework you’re buying is heavy, whether it’s a cake (referring to the tablet being in a solitary shape with one fuse to light), an artillery shell (reloadable tubes that you light the fuse each time), or a fountain, you should be in good shape.
Combine Fireworks
No, I don’t mean to Frankenstein your fireworks together. I mean to pair your fireworks together when you’re lighting them for a better show. Combine a cake with artillery shells, or a cake with a couple of fountains, or a fountain and a cake with a couple of artillery shells. Combining these together will make your show look awesome and planned.
Have Multiple Lighters
It’s always best to have more than one person down lighting off your fireworks for your show. If you only have one person lighting them off, it’s very difficult to combine fireworks. Not only will your show be lackluster this way, but it will be long and drawn-out too (and not in a good way).
Combine Your Money
Like I said earlier, our family still goes in together to buy fireworks. Most time, people want to go in and buy their own. Then everyone shows up with their few bags of fireworks, and it’s never as much as everyone expected it would be. BUT if you all pitch in together and get your fireworks in the same trip, you can end up with WAY more. Sometimes you can buy assortment packs that will save you more than just buying off the shelf. The packs can be expensive, but if everyone pools together you can afford it easily.
Buy A Variety
The last of our Firework Show Tips are to buy a variety. If your firework stand has the capability, watch a demo of the firework on DVD before you buy it. Split up your money between cakes, bottle rockets, artillery shells, and kid’s stuff. This will make sure you have enough to keep everyone entertained for the majority of the day.
As an added bonus to our Firework Show Tips, here’s a list of our 2017 favorite 200 grams that you can click to see their demo video on YouTube:
Space Monkey
Cut to the Chase Jase (Duck Commander brand)
Purple Haze
Moon Chaser
Jump Jive & Jam
Pure Party
Diamonds in the Dark
Dazzling Delight
After Midnight
Wild Fire
If you enjoyed these Firework Show Tips, check out these fun Fourth of July themed posts too:
Patriotic Fruit Salad
Patriotic Bandana Wreath
