By Connor Boyd
BLOOMINGTON – Independence Day is upon us which means here comes the boom.
Fourth of July weekend is the biggest day of the year for fireworks in the United States. Central State Fireworks CEO Larry Lefferts said firework displays should be left to the professionals.
“There’s so much consumer fireworks shot in Illinois, even though it’s not as legal as it is in other states,” Lefferts said. “Anybody that’s doing that type of thing on their own is taking an enormous risk and could literally lose everything they own because of it, it’s just something that would happen, unfortunately.”
Lefferts added fireworks do not come cheap in terms of money and legal issues.
“About $1,500 to $2,000 but typically it takes $2,000 to put on a good display,” Lefferts said. “There’s a lot of behind the scenes costs with insurance, workers (compensation) and everything else that all the other businesses deal with, but only in our business it’s a high risk.”
Lefferts reminded residents that Independence Day is not the only time of the year for fireworks.
“We have actually done, over the last 15 years, three funerals, birthday parties, we do fireworks for the University of Illinois football games and Chicago Fire soccer games,” said Lefferts. “It’s getting to be more of a year-round thing but, obviously, this is our bell weather.”
Central State Fireworks will put on three displays in the Bloomington-Normal area at Lakeside Country Club, Bloomington Country Club and at the Normal Corn Crib.
