The main types
Fountains sit on the ground and spray sparks upward for anywhere from 30 seconds to several 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 7 to 10 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. Shopping for the Fourth? Our July 4th buying guide has this year's sale dates and store hours.
Setting up
Pick a flat spot of dirt, gravel or concrete, well clear of anything that burns, and keep the audience back: about 25 feet for fountains, 75 feet for 200-gram cakes and 150 feet for 500-gram cakes and artillery shells. 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.