Hoosiers can launch fireworks at home

Fourth of July festivities in Bloomington often include a fireworks show at the IU Memorial Stadium, but thanks to a new Indiana law community members can launch their very own fireworks show from the comfort of their backyard.\n"It's an American thing to blow stuff up on the Fourth of July," said Bloomington resident Lisa Bennett, a cashier for Patriotic Fireworks located at 2510 E. Third St. "Come in now to get cheaper fireworks than closer to the Fourth. This place will be packed so it's always better to come in early so you're not fighting the crowds." \nBennett said the average person spends about $50 on fireworks per visit, but patrons willing to spend $100, $250 or $500 are given loads of free items to accompany their show depending on how the total goes. Similar to rent checks and grocery bills, she recommended students pool their money together as opposed to going it alone so the firework display can contain the most bangs, booms and explosions larger packages afford.\n"A lot of people like artillery shells, which before you had to take out-of-state because the fireworks were illegal," Bennett said, standing in front of a red, white and blue-starred table cloth beneath packages of three-foot long silver-tipped Chinese bottle rockets. "This year you can set them off on your property or property where you have permission ... We get a lot of our stuff directly from China and people can do a small show for only $200."\nCommunity members wishing to launch their own patriotic display of colorful lights, loud explosions and screaming bottle rockets have many choices at Patriotic Fireworks like a "Bunker Buster" roll of 16,000 firecrackers, a "Bad Ass Ballistics" package containing 60 shots and 104 explosions, "Hell Fire Shells" with five breaks and 30 explosions, a "Parachute Battalion" that "shoots flaming balls," a 144-pack of "Whistling Moon Travels with Report" and the "Goliath" firework spectacle containing 36 assorted shells, 54 assorted effects and a second launcher.\nBennett said any community member willing to offer their safe space for a Fourth of July backyard show but who are strapped for ignitable-worthy cash can either: a) buy enough fireworks for a magnificent show and charge people for a seat similar to a college keg party; or b) have a "BYOF," or bring your own fireworks, that are piled together similar to a potluck dinner before an order of display is determined.\n"Sometimes it's like buying cut flowers. I have a hard time spending money on that but I have friend that is known for putting on an awesome show so I have the best of both worlds," she said. "I think guys like to blow stuff up but there is plenty for everyone. We've got sparklers, snappy things, tanks -- all the classics."\nCommunity members can obtain a pack of "Jumping Jacks" for 50 cents, "Glow Worms" for 99 cents, "Snap Dragons" for $1.99, "Sparklers" for $1.99 and "Smoke Balls" for $1.99. \nThe Patriotic Fireworks staff is required by law to check community member identification to ensure no one under 18 is purchasing fireworks, and a new 11 percent increase in sales tax awaits customers at the checkout counter this year to offset firefighter training. Community members are no longer required to sign a form that states they will travel out-of-state to blow up their Fourth of July wares because Indiana law now states the Hoosier sky is ripe for colorful bursts of patriotic light.\nOther firework possibilities for the ultimate in Fourth of July shows include "Tiger Demolition Shells," "Mad Bombers," "Festival Balls," "Magical Barrage," "Twitter Glitter," "Funky Fantasy," "Perfect Storm," "Thunder Bombs," "Dixie Dynamite," "Cosmic Collision," "Loyal to None" and "Big Bad and Loud."\nBennett said a successful Fourth of July backyard firework show involves a regard for safety because concern for health and wellness is the key to a fun and spectacular holiday celebration. She said community members can ask Patriotic staff questions about what there fireworks do but often is hard to tell what the resulting explosion will look like without first lighting the fuse.\n"Follow the warnings on the box always, and don't try to relight the fuses. If it says don't hold it in your hand -- don't hold it in your hand," Bennett said. "I would also say alcohol and fireworks don't mix because people get a little bit braver when they're drinking. The Fourth of July is an important holiday -- blowing stuff up is fun and it's a patriotic thing to do."\nPatriotic Fireworks is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 24 through June 29; from 9 a.m. to midnight Monday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 30 through July 3; and from 8 a.m. to midnight July 4.