Fireworks display has it all
WORTH TWP — Whether they were whistling fireworks, booming ones or even smelly ones, they and many more were all part of the kick off of the “BOOM & a Blast” Pyrotechnics Guild International convention Sunday night.
Thousands filed into Cooper's Lake Campground toting fold-out chairs and blankets in preparation for the show that featured a tribute to a longtime PGI member, and shows from two in-state fireworks companies.
Tracy Dietrich of Portersville found out about the fireworks show through the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau and brought her two sons and her 4-year-old grandson, Ayden, who was enjoying watching the activities from the vantage point of grandma's lap.
“The setup seems really nice,” Dietrich said, sitting farther back in the crowd. “I'm interested to see what more of the low ground stuff is going to be.”
Bob Daschbach and his teenage son, Jacob, sat up close in anticipation of the big show. Normally, Jacob goes to Boy Scout camp during Fourth of July week.
“So he always misses the fireworks,” said Daschbach, of Bethel Park.
A neighbor had recommended the show to them, after going to the 1994 convention in New Castle.
Sunday's show began with a fireworks display that was perfectly in sync with the national anthem. “The rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air” were quite literal.
The song was immediately followed by a somber display remembering Dotty Drewes, a longtime fireworks enthusiast and PGI member. During a 21-gun salute, or in this case, fireworks, Drewes' ashes were shot into the air. Drewes' daughter spoke briefly before those fireworks.
“The tribute made me think of my own mother,” said Jim Brown of New Castle, who was with his wife, Tammy. “It made me think she was here with me.”
While there were computer-related difficulties for one of the shows, by Little Big Shots, fireworks competitions and the Zambelli Fireworks show filled most of the delay.
Local crowd-pleaser Zambelli set off a 25-minute show, with a soundtrack that was fully involved with the fireworks.On the ground and sky displays went off simultaneously through several tracks, changing whether the songs were upbeat or downbeat.“It was the best fireworks display I had ever seen,” said Lisa McFarren, of Conneaut Lake, with her mother and two grandchildren.Matthew and Helen Miko, who are PGI members who came all the way from Spring City, Tenn., don't get to go to too many PGI conventions. But Matthew loves fireworks.“You can feel them in your chest,” he said, talking and making animated hand gestures from his chair.He's coordinated local shows for years, but at the convention, he's simply a spectator.“He's a pain to watch them with,” said his wife with a chuckle. Instead of enjoying them, “He's critiquing them.”Little Big Shots held its fireworks show, “Bacon” at the very end, with fireworks being set off manually instead of by computer. The tribute to bacon and pork was evident: more than 20 gallons of bacon grease was used in the show, and the scent permeated through the crowd. The show was complete with bacon strip shaped fireworks, aerial fireballs and lots of loud booms.“The show was fabulous,” said Sue McFarren, Lisa McFarren's mother. “It was a little disappointing at first, but worth it.”The family is returning with friends to see the big finale Friday night.The convention continues through Friday, with public displays on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights.
