Aerial Fire Reigns in Final Show

By Steven Hyden
Post-Crescent staff writer

KAUKAUNA - The Pyrotechnics Guild International delivered on the hype leading up to Friday night's grand finale fireworks show, wowing an estimated audience of nearly 20,000 at Wisconsin International Raceway, plus an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 in surrounding fields. Cars were backed up for miles trying to get a close view of the show. After the lighting of the mega- and superstrings of firecrackers, PGI member demonstrations, and a couple delays due to wiring problems, three top fireworks organizations took to the sky for an hourlong showcase. It took a while for things to get cooking. Many of the member demonstrations were hampered by technical difficulties. But the audience's patience was rewarded when Fivestar Fireworks Co., the Michigan Pyrotechnics Arts Guild and Legion Fireworks Co. let forth an aerial assault that painted the heavens every color of the rainbow. "It was kind of slow starting off," said Kevin Milbach of Stevens Point as Fivestar's display blew out of the gate. "But it's getting better."

The show gained further momentum after the Michigan guild's brief but boisterous presentation, which offered a tantalizing sneak preview of the group's planned closing show at next year's PGI convention in Fargo, N.D. Finally, Legion Fireworks Co. closed everything out with a climactic 45-minute barrage. "It's been great," said Justin Toomey of Champlin, Minn. "This is my first PGI show. I'm thinking about joining. There's been a lot of cool fireworks going off."