ysabetwordsmith (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-28 11:05 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-06-28 11:05 pm
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Today's Adventures
We went out a couple of times today.
The first was a shopping trip to our favorite fireworks dealer, JT Firework Sales. He sets up in the parking lot of Jerry's Pizza across from Jimmy John's in Charleston, Illinois. We picked out a medium repeater (Guns & Spurs), two different small ones (3 Min and Colorful Skies), and a handful of novelties. The novelties include hen laying eggs, a flying propeller (favorites), a tank, a pair of B3 bombers, and a pack of 14" morning glory sparklers (new). Most highly recommended if you're in the central Illinois area. He can make suggestions based on your stated tastes if you're not sure what to pick, but this time we had clear choices from the descriptions on the packages.
We asked if he was doing okay because of the tariffs. He said that it's fine this year, because he already had everything purchased -- most fireworks vendors buy up to a year in advance. That means anyone who claims that tariffs have driven up their prices is almost certainly trying to screw you, and you should seek a more honest vendor.
After supper, we went back out to watch the fireworks show in Tolono. It's one of our favorites because it's a small town with little traffic, puts on an excellent show for its size class, and we watch it from a nearby parking lot so we can leave as soon as the show ends. This year there was a lot of deep blue, some purple and orange in addition to the usual red, green, gold, and silver. They had some kidney-shaped rings, and also rings or blossoms with two or three sparks zipping out in a different color like antennae. The swimmers were especially strong this year, going quite far from the center of the burst. I think my favorite new thing was a shower of sparks that had a red part and a green part. :D Not many weeping willows though. It was a great show and we really enjoyed it.
This has been a fun day. \o/
The first was a shopping trip to our favorite fireworks dealer, JT Firework Sales. He sets up in the parking lot of Jerry's Pizza across from Jimmy John's in Charleston, Illinois. We picked out a medium repeater (Guns & Spurs), two different small ones (3 Min and Colorful Skies), and a handful of novelties. The novelties include hen laying eggs, a flying propeller (favorites), a tank, a pair of B3 bombers, and a pack of 14" morning glory sparklers (new). Most highly recommended if you're in the central Illinois area. He can make suggestions based on your stated tastes if you're not sure what to pick, but this time we had clear choices from the descriptions on the packages.
We asked if he was doing okay because of the tariffs. He said that it's fine this year, because he already had everything purchased -- most fireworks vendors buy up to a year in advance. That means anyone who claims that tariffs have driven up their prices is almost certainly trying to screw you, and you should seek a more honest vendor.
After supper, we went back out to watch the fireworks show in Tolono. It's one of our favorites because it's a small town with little traffic, puts on an excellent show for its size class, and we watch it from a nearby parking lot so we can leave as soon as the show ends. This year there was a lot of deep blue, some purple and orange in addition to the usual red, green, gold, and silver. They had some kidney-shaped rings, and also rings or blossoms with two or three sparks zipping out in a different color like antennae. The swimmers were especially strong this year, going quite far from the center of the burst. I think my favorite new thing was a shower of sparks that had a red part and a green part. :D Not many weeping willows though. It was a great show and we really enjoyed it.
This has been a fun day. \o/
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Thoughts
Many states have a listing of where and when the shows will be.
Search "(town near you)" and "fireworks event" or similar.
Small towns often have quite nice displays with far less traffic than large towns.
Look for a place near the show but not inside its perimeter. This avoids or minimizes crowds, traffic jams, and obnoxious people.
Scout around before the show to get an idea of where you want to set up along with your route options to and from.
Re: Thoughts