It should be no secret that I like a good show

At this point I’ve had 15 years of experience putting together family and neighborhood shows. Of course, I’m not joined by 10-15 other cousins all set up to fire mortars and cakes off in sync, but that’s graduated to a more refined (and safe) remote ignition. All the same…a show is a show, and nothing says America like a good old fireworks display.

It’s an overused saying to “do what you love”. To me seeing the sheer joy that a fireworks show brings, and the giddy excitement that accompanies each artillery burst, is doing what I love. After a lull between family shows at reunions in Gallatin, TN, it is my pleasure to bring the joy home and share what has for me become a family tradition.

Countdown to the 4th

7/4/25 9:30pm

Want to contribute to the neighborhood show this year? Find me on FB or in the Friends of Foxfire group.

Watching from your own porch? Tune in to 106.5FM!  Don’t have a radio? Come here 7/4 and the audio track will be loaded before the show; just hit play at 9:30.

A Rising Star

I do try to stick to a theme every year; sorta. 2025 we’re theming out a rising star. A musical and pyrotechnic journey of hope, growth, and self-discovery. Your own potential, igniting like a spark and rising until it shines boldly across the sky. 

shooting star under blue sky
Ignition

Possibility.  Unrealized potential.  Grow into yourself.

Build Momentum

The spark grows; ambition and clarity taking hold.

Wish

Reflect on inner strength and hope; strength and perseverance reminds us dreams are worth chasing.

Ascend

We all carry a spark.  Courage; passion; and heart leads to something brilliant.  Limitless, luminous, and unforgettable.

RiseUnforgettableUnstoppableLimitless

What goes into a show?

As a backyard pyro, pharmacist, and just generally curious kind of guy I’m always looking to “level up” my work. You won’t see a bunch people running around with torches setting off shells and cakes. That’s just crazy.  It also requires a lot of space for safety and more coordination than I want to deal with. There is a lot of groundwork behind the scenes before the shoot to make sure it goes smoothly, safely, and that it’s something everybody can enjoy.

 Setting the mood

So we could just set off a bunch of explosives, but if you’ve ever been to Disney, or any pyromusical, that’s just not as cool.  I could just pick a random assortment of hit songs, press the play button, and let ‘er rip.  That’s also not my style.  I’ll go through and look for music that has some depth, isn’t just random pounding bass for 3 or more minutes, and has some genuine creativity.

It’s about timing

Once I’ve picked the songs it’s time to start getting picky. I won’t randomly throw cakes in or just start shooting shells.  I’ll go through, pick shots based on color, effect, and duration, placing them where they’ll have the most impressive effect to go along with the music. This is the most time-consuming part, and it’ll usually go through two, three, or four iterations before I am satisfied with the shot list.

Prep and Setup

The last step…to finally prep the shots and match them up to the channel cues on the firing system.  We’ll also test the audio, make sure the script fires as expected, and make sure the audio system is set up and can be heard, but not overwhelm the crowd.

Time to shoot

2 days of work…15-20 minutes of sheer joy. Assuming everything goes smoothly (since I tend to over prepare…it usually does), somebody will arm the show, hit the firing trigger, and for a very short period of time we’ll forget about everything else but the colors, streamers, and effects in front of us.  Timed perfectly to the music.

Shooting a Show

Used to be we’d use about 5-10 cousins to set things off strategically. I’d like to think we’ve upgraded safety a bit with electronic firing. 

Cobra

I’m not particularly a fan of the light and run approach, so shows are now set off using the Cobra firing system. An upgrade to the cue sheet and push button firing, Cobra allows much more complex and precise firing as well as real-time cue information through the use of their firing modules (I’m using 18M and 72M modules with slats).

Cobra

Neat thing about this system? Audio is fully integrated into the show, starting with the show and staying in sync with the cues thanks to the Audio Box. Don’t get me wrong, I can watch fireworks all day without music, but the music just hits harder when you have that perfectly timed shot hit at the right moment.

Cobra, in my own opinion, is top of the line when it comes to remote firing.  The price is also top of the line.  You’re getting reliability, flexibility,  and expandability with a system that probably won’t ever have to be replaced.  That being said, there are multiple systems available that are much less expensive and will get the job done.  A relatively inexpensive Biluscon system works for simple shoots, and gets the job done. Other systems like IGNITE, fireTEK, and others exist but Cobra does it all in one neat, reliable package.

Safety First

Fireworks are dangerous. Safety always comes first. Full Stop. We will not shoot if we cannot guarantee that we can do the shoot safely. Its better to wait and try again than take a trip to the hospital. For more, see this page from NFPA.

This year’s shot list

Curious as to what shots are used in the show?  Here you go! As we add shots I’ll update the table.  Once the show is complete and ready to shoot we’ll add in where that shot is in the show (so if you bought a shot you know exactly where it fits in).

For any fireworks newbies…here’s a rundown of what some of the terms are going to mean:

  • Consumer and 1.4G are the class of fireworks; 1.4G is generally pro-line (i.e., special training and experience is required to purchase) and has higher powder weights
  • Cakes (or repeaters) are multi-shot products that have multiple effects fused together in one convenient package.
  • Zipper cakes are fast-fused cakes that typically fill the sky in a sweep back and forth; high-shot count, short duration
  • Compound cakes are cakes that are meant to be shot together or sequentially as a set
  • Artillery shells (or mortars) are those heavy “thumps” you’ll hear; single shots that are larger bursts than usually packed in cakes
  • Comets are single-shot items that simply produce a ball of colored light
  • Fan sweeps or slices are multi-shot bursts that are in a fan shape; sweeps are sequential shots from left to right (or vice versa) while slices are all at the same time
fireworks display

Special thanks to Lisa and Doug Maines, the Brandenburgs, the Pionks, the Praters, the Hollos, Jimmy Stewart, and Crazy Herb’s Fireworks

4th of July 2025

Previous Shows

3.13.25

Victor, WV

7.4.24

Abingdon, VA

7.4.23

Abingdon, VA

7.4.22

Abingdon, VA

7.4.19

Victor,WV

7.4.18

Gallatin, TN

Buy a rack

Need a rack? Buy a rack! These rack assemblies will accommodate 18 standard DR11 2.4″ HDPE tubes (not included). Why 18? Most consumer canister kits have 6, 12, 18, or 24 shells. Cobra modules and many other firing systems also tend to be 18-cue or a multiple of 6.

Note that these are HEAVY. This is intended, since you do NOT want a rack turning over, potentially pointing a live shell at you, your help, or your audience. Tubes have spacing built in between them, so if a tube fails the chance is reduced of the failure affecting other tubes. If one rack fails, these are screwed in so you only have to replace the 6-shot rack itself, not the entire unit.

Remember…Safety First!

You are responsible for your safety and the safety of those around you! Your purchase of any mortar rack is at your own risk. Use of mortar racks from The Mays in an unsafe manner may result in personal injury or death and/or property damage. The Mays will not be liable for any damage or injury resulting from the use of our mortar racks or any other firework item for sale on this website.  You are also responsible for making sure that you are in compliance with local or state ordinances, laws, and regulations regarding the use of aerial fireworks.

  • Always have appropriate fire safety equipment on hand when setting off any type of firework
  • All mortar racks should be securly anchored, either by ensuring they are screwed together in an assembly that provides a stable base, or anchored by other means to the ground in a manner that ensures the rack will remain upright. Zip-ties are NOT an acceptable method of securing racks! If you can push a rack over with your foot, it’s not secured!
  • NEVER stand directly over or place any body part over a mortar unless you are absolutely sure it is empty; if in doubt, assume a live shell is in it!
  • Inspect all mortar tubes for damage prior to use; check the plug in the bottom, and remove any debris from the inside of the mortar. Compressed air is an efficient way to clean out the interior of the tubes.
  • Inspect the rack for any damage prior to use; repair or replace any broken boards or components that appear to be failing. You do not want your rack to come apart in the middle of a shoot!
  • NEVER use PVC/CPVC for mortar tubes! HDPE and fiberglass tubes will shred when they fail, while PVC tubes will turn into a pipe bomb and create shrapnel during a failure!
  • Scout your location ahead of time. You need ample space; for mortars you should plan on 70′ of separation per inch from your firing location to the audience. I try to go for 100′ per inch since you don’t want wind carrying debris into the audience, so you’re looking at ~150-200′ ideally, and at least 25′ separation from any overhead objects (trees, power lines, etc.). Mines, fountains, and comets that do not have an aerial burst can be closer (35′ per inch).
  • Be weather aware. Pick an upper limit for the wind and stick to it (15mph is reasonable). You don’t want the wind pushing aerial shells towards your audience or towards other buildings.
  • Be careful in dry weather. If shooting in a field, cut and remove any loose/dead vegetation in the firing area. If possible, wet down the area prior to shooting. Be ready to extinguish any cakes that are burning after the shoot. If wind is a factor be extra vigilant.
  • No alcohol. Booze and explosives do not mix.
  • E-matches/MJG igniters should remain shunted until ready to put on a cue (if firing electronically). Don’t remove the shunt until ready to add to the cue, and don’t pull back the shroud on the igniter! While rare, static electricity can set off the igniter (if no shunt in place), which will light the fuse or powder if attached to the firework!