Pyrotechnics Guild International will light up the Buchanan night sky with three public shows on Aug. 8, 12 and 14.
The Pyrotechnics Guild International is dedicated to creating a safe and legal space for those who enjoy fireworks, including those who just want to watch and those who want to work with them.
Every summer, the guild holds a week-long convention in a different city, with nightly fireworks shootings and displays, inviting hundreds of people across the country to spend time with other pyrotechnic enthusiasts.
The annual convention will be held at Wisconsin International Raceway, W1460 Outagamie County KK from Aug. 8 to 14. Here’s what to expect.
The Pyrotechnics Guild International convention is more than just a firework show
The theme for this year’s Wisconsin Fireworks Festival shows is “Ignite the Night,” bringing three nights of elite pyro-musicals complete with massive aerial shells, ground fireballs, member-made exhibition creations and several synchronized drone sky shows.
Pyro-musicals are specialized firework shows choreographed and synchronized to a musical soundtrack. The “Ignite the Night” shows are scripted down to the tenths of a second.
“‘Ignite the Night’ isn’t just a fireworks show, it’s an experiential art from combining technology, music and artistry in the sky,” said marketing manager, Rick Olivieri, in a news release.
Each night will provide a distinctly different experience for attendees:
The guild also hosts pyrotechnic training courses for local fire and safety professionals during the convention and is collaborating with The Community Blood Center to host a member blood drive.
Gates open nightly at 6 p.m. and shows will begin at dusk. There is no roadside parking and show night parking lots are only open on public nights.
The public is asked not to travel to the area on non-public show nights as roadside care will be ticketed or towed.,
Pre-sale tickets are strictly required for entry. Public tickets, ticket packages and fundraising opportunities can be found on the Pyrotechnics Guild International’s website.
Even if you’re not attending the convention, you might still hear it
Those attending the show and those in the surrounding area should be aware of how loud the convention actually is.
The Pyrotechnics Guild International annual convention held in 2023 at the Sunnyview Expo Center in Oshkosh lit up a fierce debate whether to invite the guild back to residential areas, after its powerful fireworks startled people and animals and rattled walls and windows as far away as Neenah, a distance of 6 miles.
Residents who were unaware that the convention was happening went outside to investigate the noise, thinking they might see an approaching thunderstorm. Others blamed the booms on the Northern Lightning military aircraft training exercise, which was occurring at the same time across Wisconsin but ended daily activities by 5 p.m.
Ahead of the weeklong convention, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office said it was “aware of some mixed feelings” regarding the event and sought to redirect complaints.
“Although the Sheriff’s Office is not involved in the permitting for any event at Sunnyview Expo Center, we know the proper permits were obtained to hold the event, which allows fireworks displays to occur nightly through 1 a.m.,” it said in 2023 a Facebook post.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit pgi.org.
Reach Jelissa Burns at 920-453-5107 or jburns1@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @burns_jelissa or on Instagram at burns_jelissa.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: This pyrotechnic convention is coming to the Wisconsin International Raceway
Reporting by Jelissa Burns and Emma Johnson, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jelissa Burns and Emma Johnson, Appleton Post-Crescent | USA TODAY Network
