Independence Day is a holiday Americans reflect on their freedom–we do so very loudly. While the way Americans celebrate this important holiday may have evolved throughout the years, it’s essential to have fireworks on hand for the Fourth of July. Throughout Salem, the sky explodes with colorful sparks, the ground shakes with booms, and the streets cloud in a haze of smoke. Independence Day is an exciting summer holiday that unites all underneath an umbrella of freedom and a fire-lit sky. When shopping for fireworks, one has to think of the volume of the explosions, the array of colors, and the overall loudness. Boomtown Fireworks helped me choose four of the best fireworks for the Fourth of July.
Chris Reese, the owner of Boomtown Fireworks, has been selling fireworks in Salem for 30 years. While showing me around the tent, Reese tells me that Boomtown Fireworks is a family-owned business that plans to keep going for as long as possible. Reese also says he enjoys the sense of community he sees in Salem and the joy his business brings. When visiting Boomtown, Reese donated four of the best-selling fireworks for me to review.
The best firework for The Fourth is Coconut Grove Song. Coconut Grove Song is my all-time favorite among the top four best-selling fireworks because it shoots 19 palm-shaped shots in all different colors. The huge burst of color in each shot is mesmerizing, making one forget about everything else for at least one minute. (Even the time my dad almost set my Grandparents’ house on fire with fireworks.)
Artillery Shells are my second favorite fireworks out of the top four. The Artillery Shells firework is similar to Coconut Grove Song, but the Artillery Shells are only a single-shot firework. Reese informed me that this firework is a favorite among teenage boys. (Probably because they’re shooting them at each other.)
Coming in third is Poking the Bear. It’s a fountain firework that lasts up to two minutes, giving it the endurance award for fireworks. Poking the Bear earns its name–a firework that won’t give up. For 120 seconds, the firework stays grounded and shoots a multi-colored fountain of fire. At the end of the Bear’s performance, the flames surprise the viewer, shooting higher and higher.
While I don’t give the classic Parachute a thumbs down, the Parachute is my least favorite of the top four. The Parachute is a firework that shoots a small, plastic army man into the sky and floats down on a little parachute. Before floating down, the firework explodes in pink smoke, leaving all watching, looking for that little green man in the sky.
The Fourth of July brings Americans together with family, friends, barbeques, and explosions. Independence Day is loud and colorful, and why shouldn’t it be? We should be booming about our freedom and celebrating our diversity. Independence Day gives us a day to reflect on the establishment of our United States–and we should do it loudly.
