Shawna and Zeth Slaughter of Alexandria shop for fireworks at Keystone Fireworks in Altoona.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

As John Adams predicted in 1776, Americans will celebrate the Independence Day holiday with “bonfires and illuminations.”

While that holds true today, recent hikes in tariffs means the cost of those “illuminations,” or fireworks, has increased, and that is a point of concern for some local business owners.

Professional fireworks companies have been experiencing record-breaking growth since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association.

In 2022, the industry saw revenues of $400 million. As business continued to boom, 2024 experienced an all-time high of $600 million in revenue, Heckman said.

Now, shifting tariff rates threaten not only the viability of small fireworks businesses, but the broader supply chain as well, since China produces 99% of consumer fireworks and 90% of professional display fireworks.

The good news? Consumers will see limited increase in prices this year thanks to stockpiles left over from last year.

“Our prices are pretty much the same this year, but we have a lot of stock from before the tariffs took effect,” said Gary Brumbaugh, owner of Williamsburg-based Brumbaugh’s Fireworks.

Brumbaugh had two containers of fireworks arrive under a 25% tariff, with the company realizing a $2 price increase on a single item.

“Anyone saying that the tariffs haven’t affected prices is just not telling the truth,” he said. “No company can survive by not passing the increase of cost to the end consumer.”

Brumbaugh said at one point, tariffs hit 145%. He had one container of product sitting at the port in China when that happened, and he was forced to have it returned to the factory.

“We just couldn’t see that kind of price increase to our customers,” he said. When the tariffs dropped to 35%, Brumbaugh decided to go ahead and have the product shipped.

Lancaster-based Keystone Fireworks has worked to keep their prices about the same as last year, said owner Kevin Shaub.

“While we have incurred significant costs due to the tariffs, we have made every effort not to pass them along to our customers,” he said.

Rose Knepp of Kneppy’s Fireworks, Morrisdale, said most of their products were not affected by tariffs because they ordered earlier, before tariffs became an issue.

“We are very fortunate this year because we keep a large inventory,” Knepp said. “Only a few of (more than) 500 items went up very slightly. We actually had some prices go down because when we get a product at a lower price, we pass the savings on to the customer.”

Bill Dutil, owner of Freedom Fireworks, East Freedom, said tariffs have not affected his prices as he, too, purchased them before the tariffs became an issue.

“For our store, we have seen no price increases over last year,” he said, noting some prices even came down.

Willam A. Weimer, vice president and general counsel of Phantom Fireworks, said tariffs are affecting the business.

“Prices will be affected this year by tariffs and increased shipping costs on about one-third of the products,” he said, adding the products arrived a bit late as they were caught up in the fluctuating tariffs.

Weimer said Phantom Fireworks has stopped receiving products this year to avoid further tariffs.

Despite the concern over tariffs, businesses expect sales to be good this year, with July 4 falling on a Friday.

“People will celebrate with fireworks all weekend long,” Shaub said.

Weimer agreed, noting that “having the entire weekend to celebrate normally drives up the sales of consumer fireworks.”

Those who are purchasing consumer-grade fireworks are typically looking for bright colors and noise.

“The most popular items are the aerial products that go up in the air and produce multiple color effects and noise. Those items include 200- and 500-gram aerial repeaters, reloadable shell kits, rockets and Roman Candles,” Weimer said.

“Our aerial fireworks are more and more popular as Pennsylvania residents become more aware of what’s available. Our 200-gram and 500-gram cakes are very popular. Once you’ve tried them, the ground based fireworks just don’t compare,” Shaub said.

Every customer has their own favorite.

“We get people who live in towns that purchase nothing but fountains, and then we get some that like the smaller 200-gram cakes due to the lower price,” Brumbaugh said. “Then you get some that like nothing but 200-gram and 500-gram cakes due to just being able to light one fuse and have multiple shots going off.”

Still, others want nothing but mortars and shells due to the bigger effect they produce, he added.

Knepp sees customers buying based on their own unique preferences and needs.

“For those who like to go big, artillery shells and 500-gram cakes/repeaters are definitely popular,” she said, adding that consumer combo cakes will definitely deliver all the reactions from the crowd. The consumer “combo cakes” are a combination of three of the largest 500-gram cakes that go off all at one time, she explained.

Unfortunately, with the bigger, showy fireworks come more risks.

“Firework-related injuries have risen due to product misuse and individuals not following the instructions for using fireworks properly,” Heckman said. The American Pyrotechnics Safety and Education Foundation has produced a series of safety videos to help educate consumers on the proper use of fireworks. The safety video series includes selecting a safe location for using fireworks, how to block and brace firework devices to avoid tip over, proper use of reloadable artillery shell devices, roman candles, bottle rockets and sparklers and proper disposal of fireworks.

Weimer said it is important to buy products from a reputable, licensed dealer and follow safety rules.

Offering a few quick safety tips, Weimer said that upright products should always be braced with a couple of bricks to prevent tipovers.

“Use common sense in handling the fireworks,” he said. “Keep a safe distance between your launch site and the spectators. Make sure you have a ready source of water available for emergencies. Don’t light in strong winds. Wet fireworks down after use. Store spent fireworks in a closed metal container away from any buildings.”

The only good fireworks show is a safe one,” he said. “A sober adult should handle and shoot the fireworks.”

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.