You’ve heard of Christmas in July? This is like July in August — the Fourth of July, that is. The Pyrotechnics Guild International convention is underway in Mason City, a weeklong event showcasing the world’s top fireworks makers with spectacular displays. Jerome Mostek, an event organizer and owner of Flashing Thunder Fireworks in the north-central Iowa town of Mitchell, says many of those at the opening night’s session left amazed. Mostek says every night will get better and better. Mostek says after each night’s feature display, there will be competitions between P-G-I members in a number of different professional and beginners’ categories. Mostek says many people will see fireworks displays at this convention that they would never see anywhere else, since your typical Fourth of July fireworks event can’t afford to do what the “pryos” are doing this week at the fairgrounds in Mason City. Mostek estimates the Sunday night fireworks display cost around 100-thousand dollars. The P-G-I Convention continues nightly through Friday, with demonstration displays starting each night at 9 o’clock.
