Spiders, bugs and fireworks — oh my!
One morning last week, I woke up early and took my coffee out to the back porch. Over in the corner of the yard I caught something shimmering and glimmering. Upon closer investigation, I found out it was a spider web, a magnificently beautiful web that was sparkling with the mornings dew drops. It’s amazing that in just a few overnight hours a productive spider can spin an intricate web with geometric finesse. The spiders don’t have to take lessons, it is just talent their born with. In many ways, the spider web reminded me of a silver firework exploding into the sky, only this masterpiece was spider-made, not man made! It’s no wonder spider and bug themed fireworks are popular! Here are a few of our favorites at AllSparkFireworks.com:
Spider Mania: Your Spidey senses will be tingling when you catch a glimpse of our Spider Mania firework, an amazing arachnoid-inspired addition to your next pyrotechnic display. Get caught in a web of crackling and colorful effects that this superhero fountain spews out nonstop; your audience will be shrieking and screaming in delight. The whole show of this fountain firework lasts about a full minute and will get everyone in the mood for more.
Million Lightening Bugs: Remember catching lightening bugs in a jar when you were a kid? Well, our Million Lightening Bugs firework is a nod to this nostalgic memory as it blasts up in the sky with spectacular effects. This 200 gram cake features 300 shots that twist, turn and crackle in the sky like a swarm of these summer time insects. For the finale, massive groups of screeching and crackling “bugs” invade the darkness -- a really fun addition to your backyard firework show. Made by Black Cat fireworks, a respected name in the pyrotechnic industry.
Bug Zapper: Do you dare to mess with the Bug Zapper? Well, not if you’re a creepy, crawly thing. This fountain style firework will make you feel like the “eradicator” as you shoot off hundreds of red, green, gold and silver bugs flying all around you. Then the crackling and popping begins as they get "zapped." The whole package of this crowd-pleasing firework looks like a bug zapper you might hang in the backyard. A clever idea, but more importantly – will have you itching to fire it off!
Keep it Quiet Out There!
Creating a loud ruckus with fireworks may not be for everyone. The “report,” or noise, that firework makes can scare young children, elderly family members, household pets, wild animals and often bother the neighbors (all the more reason to invite the neighbors to your firework shindig). If you have circumstances that require you to “keep the noise down,” there are plenty of fireworks that can let you keep calm and carry on.
Low-noise or quite fireworks make a great alternative to traditional novelty fireworks that can be like the clapping of thunder in the sky. Even the screeching and whistling that some fireworks make can be bothersome to folks who are sensitive to noise. These types of fireworks rely more on visual effects including colors, glittering and strobing.
Please not that low-noise fireworks are not “no noise” fireworks. There is a varying level of noise that comes from these pyrotechnic elements, from a small pop upon lighting to light crackling upon the descent, or some with just a reduced report. Also, many of the found on the market are quiet or low-noise.
Lower-noise fireworks are perfect for many situations were loud sounds cannot be tolerated due to noise restrictions. For example, may wedding venues or corporate events working within local zoning laws often need fireworks that are not too loud. Quieter fireworks also make it easier to coordinate sequences of fireworks a musical score.
Check out the selection of fireworks and pyrotechnic supplies to get started on your own, AllSparkFireworks.com has an array for any ears.
How Big Can Fireworks Be and Still be Legal?
Who cares if your wife is hanging off the deck yelling, “you’re going loose a finger and I’m not driving you to the hospital!” Heck, you’ve probably already burned off your eyebrows more than once. If you’re like many hardcore firework enthusiasts; you keep looking for the next bigger and better firework. It’s like an addiction; but, of all the terrible vices that man can have, shooting off pyrotechnics is not that bad. So if you’re trying to push it to the limit when it comes to fireworks, just make sure you’re staying within the boundaries of the law – for your own safety and the safety of those around you.
The legal limit of explosive material allowed in a consumer firework is 50 mgs. These fireworks are called 1.4G or Class C . If you were to dismantle the firework, the amount of explosive compounds would only look like the size of an aspirin cut in half. Of course, if you search far and wide enough enough or know a DIY pyrotechnician, you might be able to find fireworks in excess of the 50 mg limit. However, the purchase and use of these items is illegal and could cause serious harm to your own personal self, other people standing and property in the vicinity. Additionally, your wallet is at risk – if caught, having possession of more than the legal limit of fireworks subjects you to fines.
If buying fireworks from a stand or other vendor and want to “spot check” to see if they are on the up-and-up, look for a manufacturer’s name on the label or box along with instructions and safety warnings. This information is required by law and if missing probably means you are handling contraband fireworks. Old-school fireworks like Cherry Bombs, M-80s, M-100s and silver salutes are supposed to be off the consumer market because they contain too much pyrotechnic compound – above and beyond what is legally allowable. However, in an effort to play off the memories of these old-school bad boys, some firework manufacturers make watered down versions with similar sounding names that are okay; if in question, just ask.
Your state and local jurisdictions will also have rules and regulations about what fireworks residents can buy and when they can shoot them off. If you are unsure, please contact the home page of your state and contact the local fire or police department. If you come across fireworks that are illegal or pyrotechnic devices that seem to be suspicious, do your duty as a citizen and call your local police force, fire department or Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms at 1-888-ATF-BOMB.
Get Hooked on Fishbowl
Have you ever heard the idiom, “to live in a fishbowl”? No, it doesn’t mean your literally residing in a huge, super-sized glass container. But it does mean that you are living in a place where everyone knows your personal business. No doubt, this expression is based in the clear glass of a fishbowl that makes it easy to peer in from every direction – sides, top, and even the bottom! So, to live in a fishbowl means that whatever you do, your actions are on public display.
Well, if you want to be on public display, you might as well make it worth your while! Be an exhibitionist, be a show-off, be a party that never stops! Our Fishbowl firework is an aptly-named pyrotechnic item that will draw people in to gawk. Once lit, all eyes will stay glued on the shimmering, glimmering effects that spew from the ground into the air like the iridescent scales on exotic fish. Not only is this popular pyrotechnic item new for 2013, it’s one of the staff picks at AllSparkFireworks.com.
A Firework Fairytale
Fireworks have been part of various cultures for thousands of years, starting in China and crossing into every corner of the world. Our collective fascination with fireworks has been captured in poems, artwork, literature and theater. A short novel called The Firework-Maker's Daughter has recently been adapted for the stage as an opera and is delighting audience young and old alike.
The book was written by Philip Pullman and originally published in 1995. The author penned the story as a school play, and the novel was eventually adapted into a play as mentioned above. Called a "fairy tale" by Pullman, the children's book is tale of adventure where the main character, a girl named Lila, goes on a quest to prove to her father that she has what it takes to follow in his footsteps as a master firework-maker. Despite her talents, her father doesn’t find firework-making a fitting job for his daughter. Of course, the journey ends happily!
We definitely recommend adding this book to your home library and catching it on stage if you can. Meanwhile, don’t forget that you can realize your own dreams and live out a real-life fairytale with fireworks and pyrotechnic supplies from AllSparkFireworks.com.
If you’re looking for fireworks that have the traditional storybook happy ending, check out the Dancing Butterfly. This small spinner firework will remind you of the almost magical butterfly effect, a phenomena where one small event can instigate huge changes. Or, create a legendary scenario with King Arthur, a massive 500 gram cake that will grab everyone’s attention!
Fun, Fiesta & Fireworks on Cinco de Mayo
Time for fun, family and fireworks! Today is Cinco de Mayo—or the fifth of May! This annual celebration commemorates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). The holiday is not really all that big of a thing in Mexico, but north of the border in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, especially with large Mexican-American populations.
Cinco de Mayo celebrations can include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United State. Many of the night time events are capped off with a festive firework show. As mortar shells are shot up into the skies, the colors sparkle overhead and remind us of those brightly-hued, twirling-swirling skirts worn by traditional Folklorica dancers.
Enjoy your own Cinco de Mayo celebration at home with margaritas, Mexican beers and lots of crowd-pleasing fireworks! One of our favorites for May 5th is the Fiesta Firework. Add south of the border sparkle into your event with this colorful and crackling 200 gram cake. This repeating firework shoots off 96 blasts of color pearl, crackle with bouquet, crackle with comet tail, and whistle. This product may look small, but when it comes to leaving a lasting impression, it is s muy grande! What a great choice in fireworks to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!
“Plan B” for Rain at Firework Shows
If you see ominous rain clouds rolling in, you can try a reverse rain dance or chanting the storm away with the childhood ditty, “rain, rain, go away.” However, it usually seems that Mother Nature doesn’t take our human schedules into account when it comes to doing her thunderous thing; she’ll steal the show outright, every time. Even if it starts pouring down rain, you can still protect your arsenal of fireworks and save yourself a bundle by having to replace water damaged items.
If you are having a small pyrotechnic show in the backyard, it’s easy to enlist the help of your guests and run all the fireworks and supplies into the garage or under the patio until the inclement weather passes and it’s safe to set up the show again. However, with professional or larger pyrotechnic events, the large set pieces and super-sized mortars can be more challenging to keep dry.
Summer, the most popular time to shoot off fireworks, is also the same season that is notorious for unexpected storms with wind, hail and sheets of rain. Within minutes, unexpected storms, can ruin the entire lineup of fireworks set up for your show. In order to keep their investments from being rendered completely useless, professionals in the industry take special measures when the weather looks “iffy.”
For example, when setting up shows, pyrotechnicians will proactively cover-up their firework features and racks with water-proof tarps in the hours before a show. This is a good tip to follow, regardless of if the weathermen are predicting a dry night – the weather is known to be fickle. Or, the sprinklers could unexpectedly go off, creating a soggy situation.
Larger-scale pyrotechnic events that are physically impossible to relocate within a few minutes require more weather safety precautions. Rolls of plastic, aluminum foil and large plastic tarps should be used to cover up mortar racks and other large items. Stretch plastic wrap, the kind furniture movers use to protect upholstery; are also good ways to cover up fireworks, fuses, computerized equipment, and other firework supplies. Even plastic trash bags can be used to cover up various elements. Buy these supplies can be purchased at a home improvement center or wholesale club. Also remember to bring along enough duct tape, sandbags, stakes and other items to keep tarps and plastic in place.
In the event that the rain gets on some of your fireworks, DO NOT try to dry them out and light them. Fireworks with water damage, even if it has dried, must not be used. The integrity of the firework has been altered and it could appear to be a dud and then misfire unexpectedly. All experts say to safely dispose of fireworks and pyrotechnic items that have been exposed to water.
Not-So-Scary Snakes
Grown-ups and kids alike love black snakes – but not real black snakes! These popular novelties have been on the fireworks scene for a long time. Not at all scary, these less-intense fireworks are easy to light then just step back and watch with delight as they slither around on the ground. Sawdust punks or long-tipped lighters are the best implements for lighting these black snake fireworks. Once they are light, the pyrotechnic compounds react to create an elongated black tube of fragile ash that “snakes” as it grows bigger and bigger. Most states in the US consider black snakes “firework novelties” because they don’t have any actual fire or explosion – the only effect is a bit of smoke. Firework black snakes, depending on the manufacturer, can be called glow worms and are easily and inexpensively available at AllSparkFireworks.com.
However, do-it-yourselfers with free time can give it a go at whipping up a batch of homemade Black Snakes. It’s not difficult and actually be a great science experiment children with adult supervision. Locate baking soda and sugar from your pantry and alcohol, lighter fuel or some other form of fuel from the garage. To make the snakes, mix 4 parts of powdered sugar (aka confectioner’s sugar) with 1 part baking soda until evenly combined. Get a rimmed disposable dish and fill it up with play box sand; this will be the foundation mold for the black snack molds. Make little mounds of sand and then use a finger to make a depression in the middle of the sand. Fill this depression with fuel to get it wet and then add a little of the sugar-baking soda mixture in the center. Use a lighter to ignite the materials and create the desired reaction – a “snake” of puffing ashes caused by the carbon dioxide reacting with the carbonate.
The reason why this project works is successful can be attributed to basic chemistry principles. The sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) breaks down into sodium carbonate, water vapor and carbon dioxide gas while the heating sugar in oxygen makes water vapor and carbon dioxide gas. If a high-grade alcohol is used as the fuel, the smoke release when lit is not toxic at all. Making black snakes is a educational activity to share with children, with appropriate supervision. Not only is it hands-on fun to mix up the ingredients, but the lighting and watching of the snakes are sure to illicit “ooooohs, “ “ahhhs,” and maybe even “that’s so gross, it’s cool.” If you’d like to see how homemade black snakes fare to commercial made black snakes, just set ‘em up side by side and watch all the wiggling, writhing fun.
Celebrate Men’s Day with Fireworks (and Beer)
Here in the USA, we celebrate Fathers’ Day by treating dad to a morning of sleeping in, an afternoon of golf and tokens of affection including yet-another tie or hand-drawn masterpiece from a child. However, in Germany, honoring dear old pop quite differently. Here, “Men’s Day”(also called mannertag) is celebrated on the Christian holiday, Ascension Day – 43 days after Easter.
Men’s Day is equal opportunity; you don’t need a paternal bond to participate. Men of all ages gather to hike through the countryside, pulling wagons full of beer, schnapps and other booze, with a single mission – to get drunk! If in the city, the men just party in the streets. Often, unless too many have passed out drunkenly before nightfall, fireworks are shot off at night. These are rowdy revelers who like the thrill and excitement of setting off fireworks themselves.
At AllSparkFireworks.com, we think that men should take part in both Father’s Day in June and Men’s Day in May. It’s the best of both worlds; one is family oriented and the other is just total guy bonding and a hall pass to party. If you plan to make fireworks part of the day, check out these top picks from the top guys at AllSparkfireworks.com.
Two Color Smoke Grenade: Manly in every way (it looks like an army man’s bomb), this smoke element will create a much-needed diversion so you and the rest of your party can get on with the partying.
Excalibur: Some call it the holy grail of fireworks; it’s guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser with 24 separate artillery shell effects. Shoots up to 250 feet high and 200 feet wide for maximum impact.
Bottle Rockets: It’s a must-have for Men’s Day merry-makers. What else would you do with all those empty beer bottles other than using them to shoot off these classic fireworks.
Surprise Fireworks for Mother’s Day
Attention, significant others of mothers: Making mom to breakfast in bed is a thoughtful gesture for Mother’s Day. So is sending her off for a day at the spa. While both of these tried-and-true treats are thoughtful, they can be expected as well. This year, give mom a surprise on Mother’s Day that she’ll never forget – a backyard firework extravaganza! It’s easier than it sounds to pull off a pyrotechnic shoe and fun for the kids, too! After a quiet morning, most moms want to have a “blast” with some family fun anyway.
Step One: At least one week before Mother’s Day (on May 12th this year), order an array of fireworks for mom’s show. Since it’s not near the 4th of July or New Year’s Eve, it can often be hard to find fireworks during the month of May. However, AllSparkFireworks.com conveniently sells fireworks and supplies online 365 days a year. You can order anytime of the day or night and your purchases will be shipped straight to your doorstep.
Step Two: Decide which fireworks mom will enjoy the most, or get a firework assortment pack with a little of each variety. If purchasing separately, make sure to order red or pink artillery shells which burst high overhead and have sparks that look like rose petals falling down to the ground. Many moms also like firework fountains which spew out long displays of colorful sparks upward from the ground level.
Step Three: Because the kids will want to be involved, also order several packs of firework sparklers or smaller firework novelties like party poppers. Remember: even though these novelty fireworks are less intense, children need adult supervision when using them.
Step Four: When the fireworks arrive from AllSparkFireworks.com, hide from mom in a dark, cool and dry place. Do not keep in your car trunk, the attic, or anywhere near a water heater or other potential safety hazard.
Step Four: On Mother’s Day evening, after the sun sets, tell mom you’d like everyone to relax on the back yard patio or some other place that is clear of debris and personal property that could be harmed by fireworks. Make sure her chair is facing the horizon over which the pyrotechnics will break.