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A home fireworks show is the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion or just put together a COVID-free outdoor party. No matter the time of year, you can put on a dazzling performance that will wow your audience.
What do you need? It’s really just a matter of having enough space. You’ll also need some supplies to build firing racks for your fireworks, and some safety equipment to keep everyone safe. Read on to learn more.
Buy Plenty of Fireworks
It probably goes without saying that the most important ingredient in a home fireworks show is the fireworks. If you’re like most home pyrotechnics aficionados, you’re shopping for fireworks on a budget. You can often get good prices on fireworks when you shop online, but some of the best deals are to be had right after a major fireworks holiday when seasonal vendors are trying to clear out their inventory quickly. You can usually get discounts of 30 to 50 percent at seasonal fireworks stands if you go the day after a major fireworks holiday. Just make sure you store your unused fireworks in a cool, dry place until the show.
You may not be able to buy all the fireworks you want at an end-of-season sale. Popular aerial items might be sold out. Buy bottle rocks, roman candles, and large cakes online to complete your display. Plan to spend at least one-third up to one-half of your budget on aerials for the big finale. You may want to light off multiple cakes for a stunning end to your show.
Block Out a Couple Hundred Square Feet for Your Show
You need a lot of space to put on a home fireworks show. You’ll need a fallout zone where hot debris and sparks can fall without hitting any power lines or structures. The fallout zone should be big enough to accommodate the break from your largest firework, which can stretch to a width of 30 feet or more.
The spectator area should be even further back – you need everyone to stay back at a distance equal to one-and-a-half times the height of your highest firework. This way, spectators will be safe from falling debris even if the wind changes. Nevertheless, make sure that the audience is upwind of the firing line.
Gather Your Supplies and Safety Equipment
You definitely don’t want to just set your aerial fireworks on the ground before you light them. At the very least, they should be plunged into buckets of dry sand so that they can’t fall over while they’re firing. The last thing you need is to hit grandma in the face with a bottle rocket.
Most people build wooden racks for firing mortars and other forms of aerial fireworks. The easiest rack to make consists of a length of thick plywood at least eight feet long and two feet wide – that’s heavy enough to keep the fireworks anchored, while not too heavy to move easily. You can screw a few lengths of two-by-two or two-by-four lumber to the bottom, so you have something to grab onto when you need to move the rack. Fasten your fireworks directly to the plywood by driving screws through their plastic bases. If there isn’t a plastic base on the bottom of the firework, you can drive the screws directly through the bottom of the tube – there should be a clay plug in there.
Once you have your fireworks fastened to their racks in firing order, it’s time to make sure you and your audience have the appropriate safety equipment. Make sure buckets of water, a hose, or fire extinguishers are available just in case a fire starts. Have burn cream and other first aid supplies on hand. Dress in 100 percent cotton clothes with long sleeves and legs – a cotton hoodie and long jeans are ideal. Cotton fabric burns instead of melting, like synthetics, so you’ll be safer wearing cotton. Wear closed-toe shoes, boots for preference, with cotton socks. Protect your hands with gloves and your eyes with goggles. Cover your head with a hard hat or a baseball cap turned backward to shield the back of your neck.
A home fireworks show can be the perfect excuse to get everyone together for the evening. Today’s residential-use fireworks are better than ever, and you can put on a spectacular aerial display with just a few supplies. Start planning your next home fireworks show now!
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