How to Plan a Private Fireworks Show
Whether celebrating our country's independence or a milestone birthday, a fireworks show is always a hit. There are many things to consider when putting on one of these colorful displays, so you'll need to plan early to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone concerned. Otherwise, a night to remember could quickly turn into a night everyone wants to forget.
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Instructions
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Check with local police and fire officials to understand the laws in your area. At the very least, a special permit may be required and in some cases you may find displays of any type are against the law.
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Locate a large unobstructed space for the show that's far from any areas of dried grass. You'll need an open space free of trees and utility wires for the fireworks themselves and plenty of room for spectators to view the show from a safe distance.
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Select a couple of friends to assist you with the show. Plan for them to light colored smoke bombs or ground spinners as the prelude to your setting off the bigger shells and rockets.
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Set up the fireworks display during the daylight hours when it's easy to judge distance and plan the order of the show. A large piece of plywood will provide a flat sturdy surface if you set up the show in a grassy or rocky area.
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Rope off the area around the display to keep children or curious party-goers from disturbing the set up.
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Wait until after dark to set off your fireworks. If the sky's not dark, you won't get the full effect of the colors and patterns.
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Tips & Warnings
Pound short pieces of aluminum conduit into the ground a few inches to use for shooting bottle rockets and roman candles. The pipe is much more stable than an actual bottle and you can control the direction of the projectile.
Keep plenty of water nearby in the event of a small fire. It's also good to have a bucket of water for kids to throw their sparklers in. If they throw them on the ground, someone could step on them in their bare feet and suffer a burn.
When lighting large repeaters, place the shell inside a concrete cinder block to keep it from tipping over while it's going off.
Light a few bottle rockets every 10 minutes just after dusk. It will begin to build excitement for the main event and help you judge the speed and direction of the wind. Then if you need to adjust the angle of your firework display, you'll have time before the show to do it.
Never try to relight a firework that didn't go off. It can be too unpredictable and cause serious injury if it lights unexpectedly. Just douse it heavily with water and dispose of it.
Never allow anyone that's been drinking alcohol to set off fireworks. This type of activity needs a clear head and quick reflexes.
