When I was growing up we never bought fireworks and set them off from the family front yard. We had a little experience with sparklers and snake fireworks but no roman candles or whistling petes. Most of the time we were traveling across county and camping along the way.
I think that my parents felt that they were a huge waste of money and likely a danger to the block or the place we happened to be on the 4th.
On the rare occasion that we were home on the 4th we went to gigantic public 4th of july events. One of my earliest memories was the trip to the San Jose State Stadium for fireworks. At that time it was more than just overhead mortors.
The San Jose Cavilers drum and bugle corps were dressed in full regalia and played a couple of songs. The politicians all had a go at the mike. They all had a 10 minute speech in their back pockets. There were extensive stationary fireworks on the field level of the stadium. Niagara falls and spinning tops that lit up American flags in Roman Candles.
As young kids we had fun running through shrubs on the hill. We used to go together with another family. They always had kids our ages so it was a great chance to get out and enjoy the park part of the stadium and marvel at its huge arches on its perimeter.
We always were there early so there was plenty of time to socialize before it got dark and the bombs exploded over our heads. Blankets and coolers full of peanut butter and jam sandwiches were always on hand. The San Jose Mercury sponsored the event.
San Jose was the preferred venue. There was always one sponsored by the San Francisco Chronicle out of Chrissy Field. Often the fog came in and many of the exploding peonies were not visible.
Then there were basically only peony or chrysanthemum shapes in the sky. Now there are rockets the spew flames all the way up into the sky and circles of explosions among others. Shells can be crafted with delayed charges to make many different shapes.
The Disney folks in Disneyland are good at displaying the great variety of overhead fireworks. There nightly displays in the summer are usually more then any local entity can produce for a once in a year celebration. There themes are cool and the music that goes with them are top notch.
Our local celebrations have some memorable moments. The local displays are usually in two places. Atwater CA, about 7 miles north of here has a local display that used the football field bleachers to get people in. They have often had their "Miss Atwater" beauty contest at the same time. There is usually a local garage band that puts out a credible entertainment package while people wait for it to get dark. One year the whole country was celebrating the anniversary of the statue of liberty in New York city. Green foam crowns were for sale and Linzi talked me into getting her one. One year it was "Tall Ships from Around the World" that America celebrated. There is difficulty getting the support for these shows now. So many people find a spot where they can see most of the shots into the sky and cheap skate on some one else's contribution. Local governments do not have the money any more for many firework displays and the local businesses are facing the same budget tightening.
Our home cats are completely upset about the in street shows. They have no instinct to sudden noise like fireworks,
My sister Kelly, living in an unincorporated area of San Jose got pretty freaked out about the number of illegal fireworks being fired in her neighborhood that had serious boom to them. Who do you call? The Santa Clara sheriff?
Its a total night mere for one of my daughters who gets very upset at the sound that comes from a popped balloon, At Disneyland we always try to get her into a store before the fireworks are displayed in the night air.
My wish to you is that if you love to be near fireworks enjoy them but be safe. If you cannot handle them.. hide under the covers.. this wacky season will soon be over.
Merced's estimated temp for the 4th is supposed to be 107. That will cut down on a lot of outdoor picnics and barbeques.
Pat
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