People watch fireworks at Saxonburg VFD fairgrounds for fireworks by New Life Christian Ministries on Monday July 3, 2023. Butler Eagle File Photo

Justin Guido

Despite economic uncertainty, firework sales have remained steady for at least one local distributor leading up to the Fourth of July.

“I personally think it’s about an average year,” said Grace Kellner, vice president of Kellner’s Fireworks. “It’s not horribly slow and it’s not horribly busy either.”

Ninety-nine percent of fireworks imported to the United States come from China, according to the American Pyrotechnics Association, meaning that even smaller businesses have to keep an eye on fluctuating global markets.

As one of the state’s largest factory-direct wholesale and retail fireworks outlets, Kellner said her company was fortunate enough to receive imports before any potential economic hurdles arose.

“We were really lucky that we got the majority of our products in before any changes with tariffs,” she said. “I can’t say the same for other companies, but for us, our prices haven’t had to reflect those changes.”

Kellner said inventory orders were placed in May 2024 and started coming in between August 2024 and February 2025.

However, she said that’s not the case for some of the products that are being shipped over from mainland China now.

“We are starting to see a change on some of the items that have been coming in a little later,” Kellner said. “They have fluctuated in price quite a bit. People are still buying things, but obviously with the higher-priced items, they’re not buying quite as much.”

In the weeks leading up to the holiday, Kellner said her company is largely focused on wholesale retail, shipping out inventory to various parts of the country and even as far away as the Caribbean Islands.

But the last few days often see a significant uptick in retail sales, with consumers making last-minute purchases of sparklers, fountains and bottle rockets.

“It used to be heavier on the wholesale but now, in most recent years, it’s been a 50/50 split,” Kellner said of which method generates the most revenue. “It just kind of depends. A lot of it also depends on what items specifically we’re carrying and what year.”

Kellner’s is set to sponsor Butler’s fireworks display on Friday, July 4, along with other Independence Day celebrations in Zelienople, West Sunbury and Mars.

As fireworks stands pop up across the region and the Fourth of July draws near, safety officials are reminding residents to celebrate responsibly — and legally — when lighting up the sky.

According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, anyone looking to set off fireworks this summer should adhere to some standard safety tips, including:

But the safest way for anyone to enjoy fireworks, according to Butler Bureau of Fire Chief Christopher Switala, is to allow the professionals to carry out the displays.

“The main thing is to leave the fireworks to the professionals,” he said. “That’s the best advice. Go attend and enjoy the fireworks display that’s going to be put on by the city.”