The main types
Fountains sit on the ground and spray sparks upward for 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Quiet, pretty, and the right place to start.
Cakes (also called multi-shot or repeaters) are the box with a single fuse that fires 9 to 500 shots into the air. 200-gram cakes are smaller; 500-gram cakes are the biggest consumer fireworks you can buy.
Artillery shells are reloadable: a tube and a bag of shells you drop in one at a time. Big single bursts, very satisfying.
Roman candles fire a string of shots from a handheld or staked tube. Stake them. Never hold them.
Sparklers, snaps, smoke and novelties are for kids and photos.
Build your first show
A good 15-minute backyard show is 8 to 12 items. Open with a couple of fountains while people settle in, move to 200-gram cakes, mix in a round of artillery shells, and finish with one 500-gram cake.
Budget roughly $150 to $300 for that lineup. Tell us the number at any of our stores and we will build it with you. For bigger yards and budgets, see how to plan a backyard show.
Setting up
Pick a flat spot of dirt, gravel or concrete at least 50 feet from the audience and anything that burns. Brace cakes with a brick on each side so they cannot tip. Have a hose or a bucket of water within reach, and a flashlight.
Use a punk or a long lighter. Light the tip of the fuse, not the middle, and walk away immediately. Fuses burn for 3 to 6 seconds.
Afterwards
Wait 20 minutes, then soak every spent item in water before it goes in the trash. Never relight a dud; soak it and throw it away. Our family safety tips cover the rest.