Fired Up?

I have mixed feelings about fireworks. That may seem a strange statement; who doesn’t like fireworks, right? Fireworks are all about being outside with friends and family and about warm summer nights. When you’re in middle school, they’re all about awkwardly making out on a scratchy blanket. Once you get older, they become the world’s easiest and cheapest date. You can even take her out for some ice cream after and you’re still under $10 unless you go to Cold Stone Creamery. Cha-ching.

Yeah, great. They also mean horrific traffic jams that usually last longer than the show itself and equally terrible neck cramps. Plus, when I was a kid, my parents would never buy me glow sticks or a neon necklace (maybe that's why I bought one last New Years in Florida. No lie). I was so deprived.

Anyway, in the end, I suppose the pros outweigh the cons. Who doesn’t catch at least one fireworks show sometime around the fourth? It’s downright un-American. With that in mind, here’s a rundown of this weekend’s fireworks smorgasbord. Personally, I’ll be getting my fix Thursday night at the Hanover Country Club. The shows I have included here are generally ones in the, “I could conceivably drive there without it making me really cranky,” range. If I’ve missed any biggies, feel free to add them in the comments section. Click on the event listing for times, directions, etc.

Thurdsay:
Riverfront Park in Millersburg

Friday:
Riverfront Park in Harrisburg (I recommend watching from Negley Park)
Memorial Park in Shippensburg
Lincoln Heights in Ephrata
Hersheypark in, um, Hershey (I recommend watching from the mansion at the Hershey Golf Club)
New Bloomfield Elementary in New Bloomfield

Saturday:
Riverfront Park in Harrisburg (Negley Park)
The Fairgrounds in Carlisle (I used to watch them at Carlisle High School, but I think they moved the show itself)
Koons Park in Linglestown

Sunday:
Riverfront Park in Harrisburg (yeah, yeah)

July 11:
Lions Club Fairgrounds in Newville