How to master a great fireworks display
By John Prue
As parks and recreation professionals, we at some point in our career will be involved in events that include fireworks. Typically, these events are some of the largest-attended ones of the year. In many cases, agencies merely secure a budget for the fireworks, follow procurement processes, and then award the contract to a fireworks vendor to produce the entire show—typically offering limited guidance to the vendor. However, parks and recreation agencies should take full control of the fireworks displays to ensure an impactful and successful event for the community.
The Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department (MWR) at Naval Station Great Lakes has been producing an annual Fourth of July Celebration that is open to the general public and draws up to 30,000 people over several days. Large fireworks displays choreographed to music, along with other lighting enhancements, are the highlight of this event, which has been recognized 36 times by the International Festival & Events Association (IFEA). Having been the coordinator of this event and specifically the fireworks display, I offer the following suggestions and lessons learned.