Happy July 4 2025 and Thank You from Displayfireworks1

[displayfireworks1]

Happy July 4 2025 and Thank You from Displayfireworks1.

I am headed to Chicago in the AM again this year for a private 1.3 and Articles of Pyrotechnics display on Saturday July 5, 2025 . Same as previous years for me. We will get a chance to see some RKM 1.3 products . Of course I will have some video from my visit for all to enjoy. Thanks for following my fireworks videos and being part of the pyrotalk forums. If you find time please get some day time pictures of your display and post on the forums. Lets all stay safe and have fun.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSseurv8YLU

[PyroFL]

Wishing everyone a safe and memorable Fourth of July. Whether you’re on the crew, at the controls or simply enjoying the show, may your day be filled with celebration and safety.

Special note to Dave safe travels to Chicago today. Wishing you a smooth and uneventful trip.

Happy Independence Day to all.

[Birdman]

Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th. I ended up bringing a few cakes up to the lake with me. Just couldn't let the 4th go without shooting something.

[Icooclast]

good luck with all your shows you guys. i hope everything goes as planned for all of you.

[PYRODAN]

Good luck to every one shooting tonight! We finished setting up about 2pm today. Our party and fireworks are tomorrow. Got the every thing tarped up. Guess I will watch and see what what others in my township are shooting off tonight. I'll post a video and some pics this week sometime. Again, good luck and be safe everyone!

[morrison2951]

Success! Had a good show tonight. Fun had by all!

[joewad]

Always a great video from your Indiana shoot site around he 4th.

[RalphieJ]

Fingers, eyes, and hearing still intact. It was a good 4th.

[KDirk]

Had an excellent 4th here. Only lit off a few of my own things earlier in the evening to scratch the itch. Ended up going to a major municipal show about an hour from home after a buddy of mine who is on the setup crew of the company that was contracted for it invited me down, and got me into the "VIP" area, as close as possible to the shoot site (just outside the safety perimeter). Was just over a 40 minute show, well paced with an exceptional finale. Largest shells they shot were 5", and talk is that next year they may try for some 8" shells.

Glad I went, it was a good time and helped take away the sting of not doing my own show this year. I'm already thinking on what my show next year will be. Planning to go really big, and have plenty of time now to get it together.

[MontanaMike]

We had good and bad results.

We had 160 cakes and 256 finale shells, plus about 120 roman candles, all on 10 Cobra 18M modules set to music. There was a big rainstorm predicted, so we bagged everything. As it turned out we got about a half inch of rain.

It was our first time bagging the show. In previous years when rain has threatened, we covered it up -- but usually when we get a rain, there's a big wind with it and we wind up having to stand over it watching for "blow ups." We figured with bagging, we could relax a little more.

The show itself was great. I think it was my best one ever from a timing and pacing standpoint. I did notice a couple of spots where I knew things were supposed to be going off but they didn't, including our big opener. But, nobody noticed; we got a huge round of applause at the end and kudos from everyone. Several people told me it was our best show yet.

Then I went over to help with the teardown and was shocked to find out that about 20 of our cakes had not gone off -- including about a half-dozen "zipper" cakes. On top of that, about 12 of the cakes that DID go off, had stopped halfway through.

I looked for a common denominator but did not find one, so I'm sure fuses got wet despite the bags. The lucky thing was that of the cakes the didn't go, most of them were "one of four" or "one of three" so the audience still saw the desired effects, just not quite all of it. The only real loss was the zipper cakes -- I had two of them in our opener, and four in the last minute; but there was enough other stuff going on in that last minute that I don't think anyone noticed.

The problem with the zippers was, they were too big for our bags so we just covered them on the top. Then unbeknownst to me, the setup crew had not removed them from the transport boards -- so they got soaked from the bottom up. If they'd moved them off onto the grass like they were supposed to, they would have been fine. How I missed that is beyond me. I walked the whole show but I must have been distracted when I went past that area.

So clearly we have things to learn regarding bagging. I already have seen some good tips on the Cobra Facebook page and will be more diligent for next year. The countdown is on for 2026!

[Birdman]

If you haven't noticed I haven't commented since the post I made on this thread on the 4th. My 4th did not go as planned. Just as I was getting ready to fire the few cakes I brought to the cabin, I got word that my son had passed that morning from a self inflicted gunshot wound. In shock I fired the cakes but don't remember much. It's been darkness since. It's going to be hard to do 4th shows but I'm determined to carry on. I'm not sure why he chose the 4th to do this. I have to believe it wasn't because he wanted me to stop our tradition but rather because he wanted to be remembered every 4th.

Sorry to drop this on everyone but I felt I owed everyone an explanation as to why I haven't been watching and commenting on everyone's videos.

[PyroFL]

I’m incredibly sorry for your loss. There are no words that can fully reach the depth of what you’re going through, but your strength in sharing this especially in a community built around tradition and celebration is deeply felt and respected.

Please don’t feel the need to apologize. No one expects anything from you right now. Grief doesn’t follow a timeline and it certainly doesn’t follow the calendar. The Fourth of July will never be the same but your choice to carry on is a powerful act of love both for your son and for the traditions you built together.

When you’re ready, your community will be here for you not just for fireworks or feedback, but to walk with you through the hard days too.

If you still have my number, feel free to shoot me a text even if it’s just to yell at someone. Sometimes that helps.

[Firelinx]

We are so sorry for your loss. Our condolences go out to you and your family. May your son rest in peace.