Fourth of July 2020 was a great one for dogs and phonophobics — people who fear loud noises — but not so much fun for everyone else.
On Sunday, we’re back to normal with the people and the booms returning to Point State Park for the City of Pittsburgh Independence Day celebration.
Upon its announcement, Mayor Bill Peduto said, “It's time to get together and celebrate our life and independence — together. After a year of suffering there is no better way to do that than joining our neighbors for the most Pittsburgh of all things, which of course is a giant fireworks display.”
From 6 to 10 p.m., there will be orchestral patriotic music, an ALCOSAN Family Activities Area and food vendors, with fireworks by the New Castle-based Pyrotecnico at 9:35 p.m.
“We’re going really big this year,” says Geoff Abraham, a spokesperson for Pyrotecnico. “It's going to be a 25-minute show. We’re going off of two barges. We’ll actually be starting the set-up on Monday [July 28] because of the scale of the show. It's some 1,500 cues, so you can multiply that by several x’s to get how many shells, but it’s a massive show.”
He adds that there will be designs and shells that we haven’t seen before.
TJ the DJ, of 100.1 FM KDKA, has put together an all-Pittsburgh soundtrack, so people can expect to hear Donnie Iris, Rusted Root, Wiz Khalifa and others. Viewers can watch the celebration from home live on WPXI-TV.
Abraham says that emerging from the pandemic, Pyrotecnico is happy to be lighting fuses again.
“2020 was a pretty horrific year for us. We were down some 80 or 90 percent across the board, and most places were just completely dark, unfortunately. It was a pretty tough year, and now we’re lucky to be back. One hundred percent of our employees are back to full time, and things are ripping and roaring.”
The company, he notes, is doing about 450 displays nationally on the Fourth and a couple dozen in the area over the weekend.
Incidentally, Pyrotecnico is also gearing up its special effects division for concert tours and special events.
“It includes lasers, fog, pyro and a bunch of different things,” Abraham says. “It’s a broad range, not just traditional fireworks.”
The music at the Point will be very traditional. Here is the lineup:
6:30 p.m.: East Wind Symphonic Band
7:15 p.m.: Munhall Community Band
8 p.m.: River City Brass
People entering the Point will be required to pass through security checkpoints. Among the prohibited items: alcohol, weapons of any kind, drones, fireworks, grills, laser pointers, mace/pepper spray, pop-up tents and selfie sticks.
The Fort Pitt Museum, nestled in the park, will present Fourth at the Fort from 1 to 5 p.m. At 1 p.m., boy scouts and local officials will do a flag raising ceremony. After that, visitors can throw tomahawks, learn about Fort Pitt and Western Pennsylvania’s role in the American Revolution, and see costumed interpreters reenact 18th-century life at Fort Pitt.
Other celebrations:
Brentwood: WWII plane flyover and parade 1 p.m. July 4, 9:30 p.m. fireworks at Brentwood Park. Brentwood4th.
Big Butler Fair: The fair in Prospect opens Friday and runs through July 10. Fireworks at dusk Sunday; bigbutlerfair.com.
Canonsburg: July 3 celebration starting with a parade at 10 a.m. on Pike Street and continuing with free swimming, face painting, and Zambelli fireworks at 10 p.m. canonsburgjuly4th.org/evening
Carnegie: Independence Day Celebration with live music, food trucks, games, skate tournament and fireworks at Carnegie Park beginning at 2 p.m. July 3. carnegieborough.com.
Crafton: Fireworks in Crafton Park, food vendors, music by Trainwreck (7:30 p.m.) and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. July 4.
Dormont: Dormont Day Fourth of July and celebration of the Dormont Pool’s 100-year anniversary from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with fireworks.
Findlay: Lighting Up the Sky Fireworks on July 3 from 4 to 11 p.m. with food trucks, music by The Cherry Bombs (8 p.m.) and fireworks (10 p.m.).
Latrobe: No parade this year, but the July 3 event will include food vendors, car cruise, music, games of chance and 9:45 p.m. fireworks; facebook.com/Latrobe-4th-of-July-Celebration-100896951519376/
Monroeville: Fireworks at the Monroeville Mall Annex at 9:30 p.m. July 4. The mall is also the scene for Living Dead Weekend. thelivingdeadweekend.com.
Moon: Moon Park is the scene of family activities, food trucks and live music by Tuned Up (4-6:30 p.m.) and No Bad Juju (8:30-10 p.m.) and fireworks at 10 p.m. July 4; moontwp.com/news/July4_6_17_21.php
Mt. Lebanon: July 4th Community Day Celebration with live music with The Delaneys at 7:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. in Mt. Lebanon Main Park; mtlebanon.org/1926/July-4th-Information
New Kensington: AK Valley Park Independence Day Celebration on July 3 fireworks, music by Curtis and the SHAKERZ, pig roast by Two Little Piggies, beverages by Voodoo Brewing Co. 5 p.m. $5; $10 at the gate; 10 and under free; akvalleypark.org/park-events.
Robinson: Fourth of July Fireworks at Burkett Park beginning at dusk. facebook.com/448630088589556/posts/3991279490991247
Rostraver: Vinoski Rostraver Independence Day Kickoff: July 3 event with music by Silent Partner at 6 p.m. and fireworks after dark. Free, but register; vinoskiwinery.com/
Scott: 4th of July Fireworks at 9:31 p.m. at Scott Park. https://scott-twp.com/event/4th-of-july-fireworks-display/
Shaler: Shaler Township Community Day with DJ at the pool in Kiwanis Park (noon to 5 p.m.), food vendors, fire truck rides (2-4 p.m.), Uptown Rhythm & Brass Band (7 p.m.), military recognition ceremony (8 p.m.) and fireworks (dusk) on July 4; shaler.org/215/Community-Day.
South Fayette/Upper St. Clair: Fireworks can be viewed from Fairview Park in South Fayette and Boyce Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair at 9:30 p.m. https://southfayettepa.com/520/Fireworks
First Published: June 25, 2021, 5:18 p.m.
Updated: June 25, 2021, 5:18 p.m.
