NOTE: A winner for this giveaway has been notified, but remember that you can still get a discount on fireworks at Pinnacle Fireworks in Springdale (exit 70) by asking for the Motherlode Mama discount. The Pinnacle Fireworks tent is slightly behind and to the LEFT of the Neighborhood Market. (It is NOT the small tent in the parking lot.) Scroll down to see the Top 10 list of recommended fireworks to try this year. Happy shopping!
Happy Wednesday, mamas! We’re about to make someone’s trip to the fireworks stand a whole lot more fun. Today we’re hosting a $150 fireworks shopping spree, courtesy of Pinnacle Fireworks!
Pinnacle Fireworks opens TODAY near the intersection of I-49 and Don Tyson Parkway in Springdale. Take exit 70, which is the Don Tyson Parkway exit. (Look for the huge 4,000-square foot tent from the interstate. It’s next to the Walmart Neighborhood Market.)
Regardless of whether or not you win this week’s shopping spree for $150 worth of fireworks, Pinnacle Fireworks is offering ALL of our Motherlode readers a 10 percent discount on regularly-priced fireworks. Be sure to ask for the “Motherlode Mama Discount” when you check out.
This business is owned by a local father-and-son team, Todd and Adam Keeley. Adam and his wife Gabrielle are parents to daughter, Reagan, and they’ve also served as foster parents for kids ranging in age from 3 to 17 years old. Here’s Adam’s cute family pic taken during last year’s 4th of July.
Since Adam LOVES all things fireworks, we asked him to put together a Top 10 list of his best fireworks recommendations for local families. As moms, we know how frustrating it can be to go to a fireworks tent and not really know which fireworks to choose. The packaging doesn’t always explain what that firework will do once the fuse is lit. Which big fireworks are worth the price tag? Which ones are the most budget-friendly but are still fun for kids?
So here’s a handy shopping guide with one expert’s recommendations on how to get the most “bang for your buck.” (Find details about how to enter to win the $150 Fireworks Shopping Spree under Adam’s recommendations below.)
By Adam Keeley, local dad, fireworks enthusiast and owner of Pinnacle Fireworks
The number one frustration I hear from fireworks shoppers is, “I don’t know what any of these fireworks do! How do I know what to buy?” Over the past few years, fireworks manufacturers have gotten better about putting performance descriptions on their products. However, sometimes the descriptions leave something to be desired. So, unless you know the difference between “Titanium Crackle Rain” and “Variegated Peonies with Lemon Pistils,” you might as well be reading an alien language.
If you shop at our tent, (Pinnacle Fireworks), we’ll actually walk around with you and answer all your questions while you choose items to fit your show and your budget. But… in case you accidentally find yourself in some other fireworks tent, here are a few tips that will help you shop for fireworks with the confidence of a true Pyro Parent!
Fireworks Basics
There are two main categories of fireworks: ground effects and aerial effects. Whether you’re shooting fireworks with your kids or on your own, it’s important to know the difference. An easy way to tell whether an item contains ground effects or aerial effects is to read the warning label found on the item. Ground items will read “Emits Showers of Sparks,” while aerial items will read “Shoots Flaming Balls” or “Shoots Flaming Balls with Reports” (“Report” is the industry word for “explosion,” meaning the item will burst into a colorful explosion or simply “pop” or “bang”). Some labels will give even more detailed warnings, such as “Spins on Ground and Shoots Upwards.” Understanding these caution labels will give you a general idea of what to expect after you light the fuse.
Some examples of ground items are lower-cost kid favorites such as smoke balls, tanks, and fountains. But be sure to note that some fountains can shoot sparks up to twenty-five in the air. Aerial items can reach much greater heights (over 150 feet for some larger fireworks). Examples of aerial fireworks include reloadable artillery shell kits, roman candles, and multi-shot cakes.
So before you go shopping, you should have a general idea of the type of fireworks show you want to create – from a dialed-down driveway display to a rock-the-block pyrotechnic performance. Like most folks, you’ll probably want something in the middle, which means a nice mix of ground effects and aerial fireworks that won’t break the bank.
This list focuses on ground items, but it also includes a few aerial fireworks for those that want to take their show to the next level. Items 1-5 are some great inexpensive items that are a good value, and items 6-10 are my personal favorites from a few different categories. Enjoy!
Budget Friendly Fireworks (Items 1 thru 5)
1. Cracklin’ Crawfish Fountain – $0.97
This tiny fountain only has one effect – crackle. And it has a duration of nearly 3 minutes! The crackle can get pretty intense, so if your kids don’t like the rapid popping sound of crackle, you may consider skipping this one.
2. Dancing Flower Fountain – $2.97
This fountain is loaded to the brim with a great variety of color and effects. A beautiful show and great duration at a budget-friendly price.
3. Neon Color Smoke Balls (12 pack) – $2.97
This one is definitely a kid-favorite. Twelve neon colored smoke balls pour out clouds of colorful smoke. It’s perfect for daytime use when the kids get antsy waiting for the sun to set. No loud booms, just pretty colors at a pretty price.
4. Color Cannon – $12.97
This is a giant roman candle that launches 180 shots of colorful firework “pearls” into the sky! It earns bonus points since it has a built-in plastic ground spike. Plus, this one is a favorite for kids that don’t like loud fireworks, because the Color Cannon has no loud booms.
5. Backpack Assortment – $24.97
No time to shop for the little ones? Grab one of these kid-sized clear backpacks, stuffed full of snaps, novelties, small fountains, and more. Choose between a reusable heart-shaped backpack or a blue backpack.
Adam’s Recommendations (Items 6 thru 10)
6. My Favorite Fountain: Mad Scientist – $10.97
Looking for something unique? Mad Scientist spews out lava-like droplets in a variety of neon colors. Always a crowd favorite!
7. My Favorite Small Cake: Silver Screen 35-Shot – $17.97
This 35-shot 200-gram cake from Brothers Pyrotechnics produces a beautiful show, launching V-shaped silver comets into the sky and erupting with silver glitter and crackling stars! It even has a built-in finale!
8. My Favorite Reloadable Artillery Shell Kit: Pyro Predator Canister Shells – $24.97
Definitely reserved for ages 16 and up, these single-shot shells launch from a reusable tube. They rival professional grade effects in terms of height, size, and noise. Each 60-gram shell is very loud and contains very big effects! Available in 6-, 12-, and 24-packs.
9. My Favorite 500-Gram Cake: Tropical Paradise 16-Shot – $54.97
500-gram cakes are fireworks shows in a box, and they’re the biggest consumer-grade firework you can buy. Tropical Paradise has 16 incredible shots that reach great heights and burst into a variety of colorful effects, including strobing willows, red chrysanthemums, and a beautiful red and green effect called “falling rain.” Don’t miss this one!
10. My Favorite Sky-Filling Finale Firework: Nuclear Sunrise 9-Shot – $149.97
If you are looking for a show-stopping firework that will make the neighbors put out their punks and go home, you need this 500-gram 9-Shot Plate known as Nuclear Sunrise. The packaging alone is impressive. Nine individual 3” tubes are fused together and mounted to a thick plywood base. Light the fuse and get back. (No, even farther back than that.) Now get ready for the largest fireworks display you’ve ever seen outside a professional show. Absolutely jaw-dropping!
Honorable Mention: Victory Celebration 37-Shot – $16.97
Keep the kids entertained while the sun is still out with Victory Celebration, a multi-shot cake that fills the daytime sky with 37 shots of parachutes! Kids love chasing parachutes as they float to the ground. Light this one in a wide-open space away from trees and buildings. Parachutes are easiest to catch in low wind conditions.
SAFETY TIP: Never stand over an item when you light the fuse, just in case the fuse burns faster than you expect. Stay low and light from the side, leaving yourself plenty of distance to retreat after you light the fuse.
Thank you to Adam Keeley for his help in developing a fireworks shopping guide for local parents! (We’re bookmarking this list!) If you’d like in-person shopping help (and to snag the Motherlode Mamas discount) go by Pinnacle Fireworks anytime between June 28th and July 5th. It’s located at I-49 and W Don Tyson Parkway (Exit 70), next to Walmart Neighborhood Market. Click HERE for a link to the Pinnacle Fireworks Facebook page.
Drawing for $150 Fireworks Shopping Spree
If you’d like to pick up some fireworks with a $150 Shopping Spree, throw your name in the online hat to win it. The fuse on this giveaway is SHORT. Post a comment or send an email to enter by Friday at 3 p.m. Then watch your inbox because we’ll notify the winner via email on Friday night, so she can shop for fireworks before July 4th.
HOW TO ENTER: If you’d love to win the $150 Fireworks Shopping Spree from Pinnacle Fireworks, click on the word “comments” (right under the headline of this post) and scroll down to the bottom of the comments posted by other moms.
Then write a quick comment telling us which fireworks you and your kids are interested in this year (or maybe a few of your favorites from years past). It always helps to have personal recommendations!
You can also email your answer to us at giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com.
INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING: Help us spread the word about this giveaway by emailing your friends and family about the giveaway. We’ll give you an extra chance to win for every person you tell. Just be sure to put giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com on the CC line of your note so we can give you proper credit.
Our newsletter subscribers get access to the good stuff, including exclusive giveaways (like this one), information about local events, local mom interviews, recipes and more.
The nwaMotherlode newsletter is delivered straight to your inbox so you don’t miss anything awesome. CLICK HERE to sign up. We won’t fill your inbox with info, no worries. We only send out newsletters when there’s something in it for you — and we know you’ll be interested in hearing about it.
BE SOCIAL: You can also earn extra chances to win by commenting on our Facebook page, following us on Twitter or following us on Instagram. If you do any of those, just mention it in your comment or email so we can give you proper credit.
We’ll choose the winner (at random) on Friday afternoon! CLICK HERE to visit the Pinnacle Fireworks Facebook page.
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Great article and seems like a great business. My boys would love ‘Mad Scientist’ for sure!
We finally got wise last summer and made notes about which fireworks we loved and wanted to buy again for our small driveway fireworks display. Our top picks were the “Krakatoa” and the “Bling Bling” (both are “Brothers” brand). Thanks for the chance to win!
Sparklers are always the winner at my house! My daughter would love the color cannon, too because she likes roman candles.
My people love the louder explosions and I really like the sparkling type . If we win this I can see us getting plenty of both!
This is an amazing giveaway! ! It would be the best 4th ever to win this. If not, we’ll still go to Pinnacle fireworks for the discount! Thank you for all the information you give us!!
Me and my kids like sparklers! My husband kid on the other hand likes THEM ALL!! Especially loud booms! And add me for a Facebook comment 😉
My kids love the fireworks displays we always attend every 4th of July, but have never really had fireworks of their own. They would love to win this prize, and I as a single mom of 4 kids would love this opportunity to be able to provide it for them.
My Kids LOOOOOOVVVEEEE fireworks!! And funny thing, they always love the little poppers and snakes! The small things are easy for them to light themselves and they enjoy those .. They also love the regular, old fashioned firecrackers!! Nice and loud! Thanks for the chance!
My grandson (born on July 3) likes the biggest, loudest fireworks he can find! He has loved fireworks since he was tiny- this giveaway would be SO fantastic for him. Thanks for the chance.
Wow would love to win this and give the girls a big show. We love all the beautiful ones. Especially the Red White And Blue ones
The tropical paradise sounds like it would be awesome! My grandkids are happy with just smokeballs and sparklers though.
Love all the recommendations! Mad Scientist sounds amazing!
My kids would love the silver screen
Thanks for the Rec! The boxes that give u a show look perfect & simple to do! Can’t wait to try ur recs!
We love fountains!! So pretty & fun to “Ooohhhh & Ahhhh” at! The 4th is a family favorite holiday!
Sparklers are always a must for our family!
My kids always love sparklers and I enjoyed them as a child as well. Also, the ones that just snap when you throw them are fun and safe for little ones.
I love fountains but my boys are “the bigger the better” fans
I love fireworks- thankfully we can see the fireworks from the Naturals games every weekend!:D
My favorites at home are still sparklers… Hubs likes loud noise ones, kids like sparklers and fountains and pretty sparkly things <3
Thanks ladies & Happy 4th of July!!!
Of course I also follow on twitter,instagram, facebook– all the places!!!
This year is an extra exciting year as my daughter and my nieces are finally old enough to “get” fireworks! They would probably fall in love with the smoke bombs. It was always a favorite of my sister and I growing up-getting to run around in the colored smoke, feeling like we’re in a music video. Sparklers are also a favorite.
Tropical paradise, silver screen, and mad scientist sound like we need those! Some of our favs from last year are Crazy exciting, American pyro, Stop and go, Trans4mer, and Night vision. Would love to have a good show this year for the kids! I’m a new single mom so this year isn’t going to be the usual show we take to my parents, so the kids may have to be happy with the small stuff.
Commented on Facebook too : )
All my kiddos absolutely love the smoke balls because they are very sensitive to sounds and these don’t make loud noises. My older ones like watching the mortars and fountains.
The bigger the better in our house!!!!!!! We love 4th of July
we love gathering with neighbors and setting off lots, fountains are our favorites, and always some sparklers! Would love to win!
My boys have been begging to stop since the tents went up!
They love the colored smoke bombs and pops!
My kids think the pooping dog firework is the funniest and they have been asking about it all year!
I love fireworks! Great giveaway, thanks.
My boys would love Mad Scientist! With three boys, we are sure to need a lot of fireworks! I love the explanation of good things to buy. Thank you!
We love fountains. They are our favorite!
We love all the big fountains and the Tropical Paradise type regular fireworks!
Thanks for the recommendations! We love the fountains
I showed this to my grandkids! They all thought the back pack assortment would be their favorite!
My kids and I are always on the lookout for a fountain that’s description said “continuous stream of Christmas light bulbs melting into the sidewalk.” We havent found it, but love trying to new fountains to compare. I get newsletter and follow on instagram
Sparklers are of course a favorite. I have a ten year old boy so anything that goes “boom” is a hit!!
I’m going to look for the Mad Scientist this year!
My kids always love sparklers. We always buy a bunch of the multi shot cannons at my moms for the kids. Hubby always goes out and buys a bunch to put in a show for the kids. We love 4th of July. Homemade ice cream and fireworks at grandmas.
So excited for this giveaway! With three girls, they love sparklers and the canons…really anything they can hold and be a part of the action. However, with our teenage son and my hubby, the louder, bigger and brighter the better! So…we would be mixing it up with a variety!
We love the Flower Gardens and the Fountains! And smoke bombs, of course!!
Wow! We like to do a show for all the kids on our street–$150 would sure buy a lot! Good luck mamas.
I’m going to look for the Mad Scientist this year!
Found it there last night
I tease my husband and the rest of my Tally family they are all a bunch or Pyromaniacs! for many years on every 4th we had one of the best displays at the Lake of the Ozarks. Unfortunately the family has had to scatter and it is more difficult to get together, however this is a Tally family year!! what a great way to celebrate with the extra 150.00 worth we could really have a fabulous display!
Tropical Paradise or Victory Celebration. I’ll have to check these recommendations out when we go to buy fireworks!
My family loves all things parachutes. They have been favorites since the boys were little. 🙂
Love this thank you! This is our first year with a kid that will be into fireworks so we’re excited! I think she would like the cracklin crawfish
We like the fireworks like the fountains that last a bit longer and change colors with some sort of nice display. We also like smoke bombs and party snappers.
All the budget-friendly ones sound good. I would especially like to try the color cannon!! Happy 4th of July!!
My personal favorite firework is the Saturn missile! For my son he loves all types of smoke bombs & the loud snap pops! Can’t wait to come check out your stand!
We love all the fireworks! Good old sparkers are still the best. And anything that puts off a beautiful spark works for us. I’m not able to get a whole lot for the kids but we do the best we can.
I love the loud and beautiful artillery shells. The kids are always a big fan of fountains, sparklers, and color flowers.
My kids love alll but smokeballs and poppers top the list. I ha e to have 1 chicken every year and parachutes.
My kids love fountains and the parachute ones!
I love the colored smoke bombs! They keep the mosquitos away!
Awesome article. Whether I win or not, I know where we’ll be headed for fireworks. In the past we’ve unintentionally purchased “screeching ” fireworks that our children are terrified of. It would be great to shop where knowledgeable staff are able to help us avoid that happening again.
Just ask for Adam when you stop by, and I’ll steer you clear of anything with the screaming effect. Thanks Caitlyn!
We love sparklers and the snap dragons!!! Although we love to gather and watch all the mortar shells light up the skies.
Hello! We love smoke bombs and sparklers but also the big ones as well. Happy 4th of July!
This would be so cool!!!
Smoke bombs, romantic candles, and artillery shells
We love sparkler, smoke balls and fountain. This is a cool giveaway.
Welllll. My son and our neighbor boys might enjoy this gift!!
I’d love to try out the neon colored smoke balls. I think my kids would love those!
We love snakes and smoke bombs, the basics!
Great article! We will definitely be referring to this when we buy fireworks this year! My family loves fountain fireworks.
Want to try the dancing flower fountain it sounds pretty
I know my son would enjoy the Mad Scientist one. In the past, we have really had fun with the small ones like the tanks, ladybugs, and there’s even a funny chicken one that lays a “eggs” (sparks). We’ve laughed pretty hard at that. My son is old enough now that he wants the big fireworks.
Everyone- The Kids AND Neighbors love the bang and explosions of the fireworks!
The Bigger the Better!
My boys love the tanks! My daughter & I enjoy fountains!
My family like all the areal loud stuff!!
I will for sure be buying a few mad scientist!
My husband loves fireworks! He’s a kid at heart. 2 of our past favorites are the Angry Beaver and Honey Badger.
Hi, my kids love the color cannon, pop its, and anything that makes really cool colors.
Hi,
My kids love color cannon, pop its, and anything that makes really cool colors.
My kids love the backpack assortments!! It’s exciting for them digging through the bags!!
We love the Roman Candles and bottle rockets. Lots of great memories made with kids on 4th of July
We love them all from smoke bombs to snakes to large fountains! Thanks for doing such a great giveaway!
We love sparklers and roman candles as they are the classics, but trying some of these like the mad scientist sounds like so much fun. It’s hard not to smile when your kids and all the neighbor kids get to enjoy the fireworks too.
We enjoy the classics like Roman candles and sparklers but we are excited to try something new like the mad scientist (who can resist the name)? We especially love sharing the fun with our son and with the neighbor kids who get to enjoy the fireworks too. It’s a joy to watch their faces “light” up!
I don’t know much about fireworks because I’m from NJ and it’s illegal to do your own there but after looking at Adam’s favorites I think my kids would enjoy the mad scientist