Convention finale dazzles spectators
WORTH TWP — Thousands of spectators filled Cooper's Lake Campground Friday night for the finale of the 2013 Pyrotechnics Guild International convention.
“I'll probably never see anything like this again in my life,” said Stephanie Sosonoskie of Butler, who brought a car full of neighbors Friday after seeing her first PGI show on Sunday. “This is the most spectacular thing I've ever seen.”
Organizers said Friday's show, which was two hours of dazzling color bursts, resonating blasts and several fireworks that dropped parachutes, drew more spectators than the public displays on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday combined.
Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, said that 40,000 people attended the final “Boom & a Blast” display.
Observers arrived packing lawn chairs, blankets, cameras and more than a couple earplugs.
Eileen Kuciak of Butler said she gladly accepted a free pair of earplugs at the entrance.
“My favorite part of the show is always the colors. How beautiful they are,” Kuciak said. “And the oohs and the ahs from the people when they go off. I really enjoy that.”
But for others, like Doris Kelly of Harmony, earplugs would have tainted the show's big bang.
“I like the booms,” Kelly said.”And the excitement. I think fireworks bring out the best in people.”
Sherri Lynn and Gary Swigart of Butler Township said the event provided just the right ”night out” activity for them.
In addition to the pyrotechnics, food stand favorites like corn dogs, cotton candy and funnel cakes were for sale. Live music preceded the fireworks, and crowd members entertained themselves by tossing balls, twirling glow sticks and chatting.
“It's awesome to have something like this so close to home,” said Sue Carothers of Ellwood City.
Yet a good share of the people in attendance said they had crossed county or even state lines to see the show.
“I'd travel 500 miles for good fireworks,” said Bob Mobilia of Erie. “The bursts of color? The sonic boom? I love it all.”
The weeklong PGI convention was put on for about 2,000 of the guild members, who attended seminars and workshops during the day.
They organized the public fireworks displays on four nights when the public could come to the campground.
Butler County officials, such as Emergency Services Director Steve Bicehouse, and Cohen reported few problems at the event.
With thousands of cars coming to Cooper's Lake, early arrivals Friday got in pretty quickly while others had to wait in line for more than an hour to park. After the show ended, some visitors had waited two hours or more to leave.
During the Friday night exhibition, Cohen ceremoniously passed the torch to representatives of the city that will host the conference next year: Mason City, Iowa.
“But I think it (the annual PGI conference) could be back in Butler County, maybe in 2017,” Cohen said.
