Lighting up the sky
WORTH TWP — Thousands of spectators packed Cooper's Lake Campground on Tuesday night for the second public showing of the Pyrotechnics Guild International fireworks convention.
The crowd was in awe throughout the two-hour show as they witnessed various displays of pyrotechnic rockets, digitally choreographed aerial shells and even fireworks set to Christmas music.
“The show is spectacular,” said Amy Wilson, the chief clerk of Butler County. “I've never seen anything like it.”
Cheers and applause echoed through the audience as the crowd seemed to fully appreciate the artistic work that went into creating each of the displays.
Whether the fireworks were synced to an accompanying tune or making the music themselves in case of one performance, it was evident the crowd reacted to the hard work that went into the event.
“It really makes you appreciate that there are artists that devote their lives to fireworks,” Wilson said. “I never realized that before.”
Bob Paroli of Center Township was thrilled to be at the event with his wife, Vicky, and his 35-year-old son, Matt.
“We've been reading about it and didn't want to miss is it,” Paroli said.
Paroli said he has seen shows in Pittsburgh and Baltimore, but was even more impressed with the atmosphere at Cooper's Lake.
“I didn't realize this place was so huge,” he said. “And the whole event is very well organized.”
Bill Fay of Butler also praised the show's organization.
Fay and his wife, Patty, viewed the PGI Convention when it was in New Castle in 1994.
“Oh, was it bad,” Fay said of his 1994 experience, citing poor shuttle services that kept them at the park until 4 a.m. “This is better by a long shot.”
Fay was there with his wife and their 12-year-old grandson, Zane Gagliardi.
“It's a lot of fun,” Zane said of the event.
Zane's buddy Nick Fritz, 12, was also excited to see the show.“I think they're fascinating,” Nick said of fireworks. “They're really colorful.”Erin Geis of Cranberry Township was watching with her two daughters, Eden, 11, and Sydney, 7.“We heard about it never being in the area before and thought it would be something different for the kids to do,” Geis said. “We've never seen anything like this on this scale.”Both her daughters were excited for the show, except for one small aspect.“It's really exciting except for how loud the fireworks are,” Eden jokingly said.Like others, Geis was impressed with the venue as well as the show.“It's really nice back in here,” she said. “It's the hidden gem of Butler County.”The show featured three primary events, as well as some categorized competitions.The competitions ranged from beginner builders up through impressive choreographed displays of Class C fireworks.The first display was a pyrotechnic rocket show, advertised as one PGI member's lifelong passion for fireworks.The rockets were only about three inches in length and diameter, but put on a show that rivaled the larger shells.The second display featured 1,500 individual cues and incorporated more than 3,000 shells ranging from 2.5 to 8 inches in diameter. The performance was done using only Freedom Fireworks pyrotechnic devices.The final display was a digitally choreographed piece titled “Elements.” The group Fine Art of Clearfield has been shooting fireworks in central Pennsylvania for more than 30 years and the piece was designed by Peter Rogoz, the best in show award winner of last year's PGI Convention.Another display from the New Castle based company Pyrotecnico was rescheduled for today due to time constraints.The convention will continue through Friday, with more public showings today and Friday.Today's entertainment leading into the evening fireworks display will be the May Hollow Remedy Band, with its jug band sound, from 4 to 4:45 p.m.; Butler artist and musician Tom Panei from 5:15 to 6 p.m.; and vocalist Sydney Hutchko from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
