YORK COUNTY, Pa. — It was day five of the 75th annual Shrewsbury Fireman’s Carnival in York County.
The event attracts thousands of people throughout its six-day run with its food, rides, and a firework show to end the night.
“We started this firework display back several years ago, and a couple of years ago we switched it from Saturday to Friday just to bring in that crowd on Friday,” said Matthew Mitzel, co-chairperson of the carnival.
Putting on a fireworks show is no easy feat.
That’s why the fire company brought back Bobby Johnson and his team from SkyShooter Displays for a second year.
“Everybody knows the process and if everybody does their job we can probably be done within an hour or so,” Johnson said.
The show is expected to launch more than 400 fireworks and is valued at around $10,000.
“With those sponsorships, it’s free to us as a fire company and really for the community as well,” Mitzel said.
Johnson’s team started setting up fireworks around 4 p.m. Friday afternoon.
Some of the fireworks must be lit manually while others can be lit electronically.
Once the fuse of a firework is lit, gunpowder within the firework starts to turn to gas and build pressure. That pressure releases the firework into the air and the mortars make sure the firework goes straight to the top.
FOX43 asked Johnson what else it takes to launch a successful show.
“A lot of teamwork, a lot of muscle, lot of work, it takes work and when it’s done, after the last shell goes the best part about our job is the roar of the crowd and that’s how we know we did a good job,” Johnson said.
Saturday, June 29 is the last day for people to visit the fireman’s carnival.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and close at 11 p.m.
The carnival will close out tomorrow with the Fireman’s Parade, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
The last time the fire company hosted its parade was more than 10 years ago.