Do you know which fireworks to buy in Texas? We made you a shopping list
Fourth of July celebrations most often revolve around lighting up a few select fireworks.
If you are new to pyrotechnics — or even if you been around fireworks — we put together a list of the different types you can light up or shoot up.
What are the different types of fireworks?
In order to choose the right kind of fireworks, you should know the different types you can choose from. These are the various types of fireworks and what they do, according to Phantom Fireworks:
- 200 gram repeaters: Aerial fireworks are large, colorful fireworks that propel effects into the sky from mortar tubes. The 200 gram repeaters are multi-shot aerial fireworks that are pre-loaded into tubes. They are smaller than the 500 gram repeaters.
- 500 gram repeaters: Also known as cakes, these fireworks are pre-loaded into tubes and are the largest multi-shot aerial fireworks available in the U.S. They can be large and loud, depending on the size of the mortars. They are very easy for consumers to use as there is a single fuse to light connected to the other tubes.
- Finale racks: These are multi-shot aerial fireworks that can have a number of mortar tubes inside. There are typically nine shots and each one varies in color and effect. They are considered to be the best part of the show as they are the biggest and loudest fireworks. These will display a wide range of colors and effects.
- Firecrackers: These have to be individually lit and are small in size, but they produce a loud sound. Firecrackers can also come in a brick, which are packs of firecrackers fused together that all go off in a matter of seconds. The other way firecrackers are put together is in a strip, in which firecrackers are fused to a connecting fuse and they go off in sequence when lit.
- Fountains: Fountains are the most popular non-aerial firework, coming in a variety of shapes and sizes. They don’t shoot into the air or make loud bangs like aerial fireworks do. When the fuse is lit, fountains will emit colorful sparks and make whistling or crackling noises. Most last a long time and different parts create the varying colors and effects.
- Jumping jacks: These are similar to firecrackers, but they jump off the ground when lit. Each one jumps, pops, and may emit colors.
- Lanterns: These are similar to little hot air balloons, so when you light them, the flame will make the lantern float into the sky. Lanterns are used for festivals around the world.
- Parachutes: Parachutes have a single tube with one or multiple shells. A weight or an army man toy is attached to a parachute that allows them to float to the ground. Some parachutes are made to be daylight parachutes, leaving a trail of smoke, and others are night-time parachutes, which will have a strobe trail.
- Party poppers: Party poppers, mostly used for celebrations, can vary in size. When you pull the string on poppers, they make a loud popping noise and emit confetti.
- Reloadable mortars: Mortar kits have launching tubes that are attached to a base to help keep the tube level on the ground. You have to load the tubes individually with the shells. When they’re lit, they are rich in color and produce stunning effects.
- Rockets and missiles: These are either attached to a tube with a fin or a stick that shoots up producing effects, like whistles, bands, crackles and stars. Buyers can stick the rockets and missiles into the ground or on platforms and light the fuses individually. Note that Texas has restrictions on the use of sky rockets, bottle rockets and pop rockets.
- Roman candles: Roman candles are in tubes typically made out of cardboard that shoot out comets, stars and other effects. They are colorful and can be large in size producing larger effects.
- Smoke balls: Smoke balls are colored with a fuse out of the top. When lit, smoke is emitted that is the same color as the ball.
- Sparklers: A Fourth of July staple, sparklers are wires layered with pyrotechnic composition that can be stuck into the ground or held. They range in size.
- Spinners: There are aerial spinners and ground spinners. Aerial spinners are lit on hard flat surfaces, and spin fast enough to fly into the air, emitting colorful sparks underneath. Ground spinners spin on the ground and produce sparks. They often change colors and give off a good amount of light when spinning around.
- Wheels: Wheels are often in a card or plastic disc with a round shape. Attached to the disc are rocket-like propellants that make the disc spin around creating flames or sparks.
When can I buy fireworks in Texas?
For Independence Day weekend, you can buy fireworks from June 24 to midnight on July 4.
Other buying periods:
- New Year’s, beginning December 20 and ending at midnight on January 1 of the following year;
- Cinco De Mayo, beginning May 1 and ending at midnight on May 5 if the fireworks are sold at a location that is not more than 100 miles from the Texas-Mexico border and the county commissioners court has approved the sale of fireworks during the period.
- Each county commissioners court can also permit firework sales for:
- Texas Independence Day, beginning February 25 and ending at midnight on March 2;
- San Jacinto Day, beginning April 16 and ending at midnight on April 21; and
- Memorial Day, beginning the Wednesday before the last Monday in May and ending at midnight on the last Monday in May.
For more information on when you can buy fireworks, contact Fire.Marshal@tdi.texas.gov.
This story was originally published June 24, 2022 at 4:03 PM.
Dalia Faheid
Fort Worth Star-Telegram