HAPPY 07/07/07, Lets Have Some Fireworks!

That is today's date.

Today is also the day we have the big fireworks in these parts.

The fireworks display in Toronto, Ohio is one of the largest in the area -- both in terms of budget and number of fireworks shells used in the show.

The fireworks display takes place at the Toronto High School football stadium, which puts the crowd as close to the fireworks display as they are legally permitted to be so the display is basically "in their face."

The fireworks are the grand finale of the day-long Fourth of July celebration in Toronto and are known as "Red Knight and Blue" in honor of the Toronto High School's mascot, the Red Knight.

The fireworks show is scripted to music and features about 1,500 - 1,600 shells, about 500 more than other area shows. The finale alone features about 1,000 fireworks shells.

The show takes an enormous amount of work to set up.

It takes a few weeks to get it set to music, eight trips to New Castle to get all the shells needed for the fireworks display, about a week to number the shells as to where they are to go off during the show and to put electric matches in each shell, about three days to set the mortars and two days to load them for the 20-23-minute fireworks show.

Jane Neal helps coordinate the music for the show, while Dan and Jeanne Van Fossen also assist in the show's preparation.

The show itself is set up by a crew of licensed exhibitors and registered assistants who work 14-to-16-hour days. Dick Shetler, R.J. Stewart and John Sciance all are licensed exhibitors who help with the many preparations needed to put on such a spectacular display. Tom Trifonoff, Erik Weber, Drew Stewart and George Scott are the registered assistants on the crew.

Sponsorship of the fireworks plays a large role in the presentation as almost every business in Toronto supports it, and without this sponsorship, such a show would not be possible.

The Toronto Community Band performs at the stadium before the show to provide additional entertainment for the crowd, which starts to form early in the afternoon.

It happens tonight, right on the riverbank, next to Seamore Ducks, 1200 N. River Ave. (the old Rivermist Marina). This marina has a tremendous variety of beer, both on tap and bottled. You'll find me there with a Gordon Biersh in one hand and my wife in the other!

The best view is from the middle of the Ohio River. So you know I'll be out on the water!

SOURCE: WTOV Channel 9 News