Summer Guide - Pyromania

Last year marked the first Independence Day that Georgians could legally buy airborne fireworks thanks to legislation that went into effect July 1. This year, however, is probably the first July Fourth when locals won’t have to drive to state borders to purchase the explosives. Over the past several months since the law passed, specialty fireworks stores have been popping up throughout metro Atlanta.

A drive up Buford Highway leads to Ninja Fireworks in Duluth. The emporium offers countless options to light up the backyard, ranging from colorful smoke bombs to king-size roman candles to massive boxes of canister shells known as “finales.” A handy shopping tip: Look for the section labeled “performance” on the product packaging. That’s where the manufacturer gives a brief description of what kind of firework it is. To help decode the lingo, here’s a visual aid to some common types.

	Parachute: The launch tube contains explosives and a small figurine with a tissue paper parachute. When the fuse is lit, it shoots up a fireball that releases the chute to float back down. This is one of few fireworks that works well in the daytime.
	Fountain: This variety sits on the ground in a cone or canister and sends a shower of sparks into the air. The largest kinds can reach up to 20-25 feet in the air, and many change colors and sparkle as they burn.
	Peony: This is the most common kind of aerial or shell-type firework. The display is an expanding sphere with points — or “stars” — that sometimes change color as they burst outward.
	Strobe: Small fireworks labeled “strobe lights” simply sit on the ground and emit bursts of pulsing light. But aerial fireworks with a strobe effect launch up to 60-75 feet in the air and release a flickering, glittery spray of stars.
	Palm: Slow-burning comets launch from a central point to produce long arms that create a palm tree-like effect. Some varieties also feature a tail that burns as it rises, to simulate a trunk. Sophisticated versions may even include a small extra shell that bursts inside the palm and looks like a coconut.
	Willow: Willows use a starburst effect, in which the stars cascade down and drift slowly to create a gentle, dome-shaped weeping willow image. These fireworks traditionally come in silver or gold.
	Crossette: This firework contains multiple stars that shoot a short distance before breaking apart into smaller stars. The bursts create a crisscrossing effect and come in a variety of colors.

__ADD IT UP: An Atlanta tradition
Crunching the numbers for Lenox Square Mall’s Independence Day show__

• Year Lenox Square Mall began fireworks show: 1960
• Number of attendees in 2015: 350,000+
• Number of fireworks shot: 10,190
• Different kinds of fireworks on display: 5,000
• Number of minutes the fireworks display lasts: 15
• Hours spent planning the programming and run of show: 60
• Hours to load and transport fireworks to Lenox Square Mall: 80-100
• Hours spent setting up the show once the supplies have arrived: 30
• Number of pyrotechnicians working the show: 6-7
• Highest a firework goes: about 700 feet
• Viewing distance (on a clear night): about 5 miles
• Performers at this year’s concert: 2
• Number of years Party on the Moon has been performing at the show, as of 2016: 9

Sources: Interviews with Carol Cox, Director of Marketing for Lenox Square Mall, and Rick Lambright, Event Producer for East Coast Pyrotechnics, Inc.