Friday Funny: It’s BOOM Time!

The Independence Day Holiday weekend is almost here and millions of Americans are planning to enjoy Fourth of July parades, backyard barbecues, and community fireworks celebrations. Nationwide, in small towns and big cities, over 16,000 fireworks displays will commemorate America’s 241st birthday, estimates the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA).

Boston, Chicago, Nashville, New York City, San Diego and Washington, DC, are well known for their fireworks displays that draw thousands of spectators, but there are plenty of fireworks celebrations that may be closer to home that you won’t want to miss.

Here are APA’s recommendations for the most avid of fireworks fans for the 2017 Independence Day holiday period:

• City of Watertown, SD – South Dakota’s Biggest Fireworks Show! – July 1: Watertown kicks off the Independence Day Holiday celebration on July 1st at the Redlin Art Center with a magnificent fireworks display produced by Lew’s Fireworks, Inc., a third generation family fireworks company with roots in Watertown dating back to over 60 years. The event is expected to draw over 30,000 spectators from across the region for the largest patriotic fireworks production in the state.
• Addison, TX – Addison Kaboom Town! – July 3: Everything is bigger in Texas and that is true of the exceptional Addison Kaboom Town! The fireworks event draws over a half-million spectators from across the country to witness the world class patriotic display by Pyro Shows of Texas. New features have been added to the display which includes the introduction of “ghost” shells which will break from one side to the other in a wave along with diamond screamers and stained glass shells. Look for an exceptional closing finale.
• Branson, MO – Branson Landing’s 10th Annual Liberty Light Up! – July 3: Branson Landing features a scenic boardwalk along the 1.5 mile Taneycomo Lakefront and at the heart of the Landing, is a vibrant town square that terraces down to the spectacular Branson Landing Fountains. The annual fireworks spectacular, produced by Gateway Fireworks Displays, includes close proximity pyrotechnics in addition to fireworks displayed over the waterfront. The event entertains over 20,000 spectators and the 10th anniversary show is certain to be a crowd pleaser.
• Blue Ash, OH – Red, White and Blue Ash – July 4: The annual Red, White and Blue Ash fireworks display is hosted at the incredible Summit Park, a 130-acre park in one of the region’s most beautiful settings. The sky is the limit for this fireworks extravaganza designed by Arthur Rozzi Pyrotechnics, featuring over 7,000 fireworks shells and 10,000 pounds of explosive power, the show is a 35-minute, non-stop pyrotechnic experience.
• Idaho Falls, ID – Melaleuca Freedom Celebration – July 4: Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Melaleuca Freedom Festival is home to the largest fireworks show west of the Mississippi River. More than 20,000 fireworks shells (totaling over 17,000 lbs.) will burst over the banks of the Snake River. The 31-minute dazzling production, produced by fifth-generation Western Display Fireworks, will be a patriotic tribute to our Founding Fathers, soldiers, veterans, and their families. This is a must-see fireworks display, hosting over 150,000 spectators from all over the Rocky Mountain region.

Keep It Fun… And Safe!

In 2016, 11,100 consumers were injured and treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms and four died as a result of direct impact from fireworks, according to a new U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report of fireworks incidents.

Children younger than five had the second highest rate of injury behind young adults ages 20 to 24. Injuries associated with consumer fireworks were most often burns to the hands, face, and head. Many of the fireworks injuries were a result of misuse or malfunction of fireworks.