Fireworks show will offer new, exciting colorful displays

The pyrotechnicians overseeing Monday’s Liberty Festival fireworks show have a message for those attending – “Don’t expect the same type of show you’ve grown accustomed to over the years.”

John O’Brien and his son Eddie spent the past several days setting up for the display just behind the rodeo grounds at McCullough Arena.

It would be safe to say their respective experience in the industry will speak for itself, come Monday night at 9 p.m.

John O’Brien has more than 20 years’ experience, while Eddie has been involved for the past 10 years.

“The fireworks are set off electronically with cables and a firing board. You can’t fill the sky as much if you were to hand-fire where flares are used,” Eddie said. “With electronically-fired shows, it takes two to three nights maximum to set everything up. So far everything is going as scheduled. We already have the racks set up so we’re going to be loading those pretty soon and we’ll go from there.”

John O’Brien will oversee the main body of the 22-minute show, while Eddie will personally be responsible for the much-anticipated grand finale.

Roughly 1,500 shells, consisting of various vibrant colors, will be launched skyward for the entire show.

“We choreograph the fireworks show with music on the radio,” he said. “This year we have specific shells to specific music to make it much more special. It is a really great feeling. It’s me and my dad and four other crew members putting this on together.”

Another new aspect of this year’s show, John O’Brien noted, is an app, now available for downloading on smartphones.

“It’s called ‘Tune-in Radio,’ and you can get earbuds and listen to KNYE radio on your smartphone, while watching the show, totally free,” he said. “I’ve included passages of speeches from past presidents for this show, and it’s very apropos to today’s society and issues around the world.”

O’Brien also imparted an important message for those who plan on taking in the show at the park with their pets.

“Just don’t do it.”

“Many of the shells we will use are very loud and we don’t want to have animals run off,” he said. “They need to be left home. A few years ago, we did a show and this person lost their dog for around three or four days. Finally someone found the dog and got it back to the owner. We just don’t want that to happen.”

Though the main portion of the Liberty Festival is centered in Petrack Park, O’Brien said the best spot to view the fireworks show will be on the far north side where the soccer field is located, next to the fire department.

Both men wanted to give thanks to individuals and organizations that helped put the festival together again this year.

“Karen from KNYE radio has been a tremendous help with this event, as well as the Pahrump Chamber of Commerce for their support in getting the word out,” John said. “This year’s music is totally different and it does have a theme, so people should listen to it carefully, and they will see.”

Prior to the fireworks show, attendees can visit any one of the 61 vendor booths when the park opens, beginning at noon.

Other activities include a water balloon tossing, along with a watermelon-eating contest beginning at 4 and 6 p.m., respectively.

Prior to the festival, the annual VFW breakfast and parade will take place at the Calvada Eye, according to Post Commander Tom Vick.

“Breakfast starts at 6 a.m., and we will be serving sausage and pancakes all for $5,” he said. “We changed the formula with the pancakes, which will be cinnamon and vanilla pancakes. It will run until we’re done. We’ve been doing this since 2004.”

Vick also said the parade will begin at the corner of Mt. Charleston Avenue at Calvada Boulevard and proceed to Dandelion Street, beginning at 9 a.m.

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes