What Does it Take to Put On a Small Community Fireworks Show for 30,000 People?

Aside from a love of a fireworks display and living in small town USA, what is the magic of this day? Is it watching those high flying aerials, listening to the "oohs" and "ahs," getting together with friends and family, or having a BBQ? Is it knowing that we live in the greatest country in the world? Maybe it's all that.

Firework shows in the valley go back more than 30 years. It ended in the '70s and was brought back by the Chamber of Commerce in 1989. In that first year, the cost to attend was $2. But then, it was a smaller show, with less costs. Not having a large selection of places to hold the show, Crescenta Valley High School, along with the district, agreed to allow the event at their school. A most perfect place.

In the early years of this show, gates opened at 10 a.m. That made for a very, very long, hot day. Okay, it didn't take long to adjust those times. Trial and error over the years finally got the chamber to the time the community was ready to arrive. Food booths were plentiful; having the well respected, family-run Kemsley Carnival as a part of the event helped immensely.

The chamber had taken a chance on starting up this event again after several years for two reasons: A need of funds to support the many community organizations, and revenue to keep the office open. All went well until the year the pyrotechnician vanished. Unlike a magic trick, he did not reappear. Nor did the event. Money was refunded and the chamber went broke.

Sounds tragic, and it certainly was. But from this emerged a pyrotechnic special effects operator from NBC. He walked in the door and asked, "What can I do to help?" And help he has provided for over 13 years.

Chuck Hughes is an exceptional local resident who just cares about the community and had seen the disappointment of that night. It looked like we might be able to come back, and with a loan from Sharon Beauchamp, Tim Mitchell and Eleanor Wacker, we kept our doors open.

Chuck built much of the firing equipment for our show over the years; when he found the time, we have no idea. But that helped to bring a better show. Chuck then had us switch to Fireworks America for our show, and with that came their specialized pyrotechnician, Robert "Hutch" Hutchins. As it turned out, Hutch was a 1972 graduate of CVHS and brought in a crew that he treats like family. What a fantastic combination. We had the best of the best. This show still has them.