Fireworks will return to fairgrounds this Fourth of July — with new additions

By Chloe Houwman, for Pigeon605

Sioux Falls’ annual fireworks show is returning to the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds this Fourth of July, and organizers say the goal is you’ll leave wowed.

Last year when the Sioux Falls Jaycees canceled its annual fireworks show at the fairgrounds because of COVID-19, Sunny Radio found a way to keep the event alive with help from sponsors.

This year, it’s back and expanded under a new nonprofit — Sioux Falls Fireworks & Community Events — founded by Sunny Radio owner John Small.

“Last year, we did a very bare-bones event because of COVID, so we really could only have the fireworks,” Small said. “Everyone ended up watching the fireworks, which were launched at Elmwood Golf Course, from different parts of northwest Sioux Falls.”

In addition to the fireworks, the POET Ethanol Powered Vanguard Flyover was one event that Small was happy could be offered last year. It’s coming back this year.

“This was something that we could do while still maintaining social distancing guidelines,” Small said. “People could stay in their vehicles, park wherever they wanted to, listen to the radio to hear what we were talking about and hear the airplanes flying over that part of town.”

The POET flyover is a smaller version of an airshow. Three or four Vanguard Squadron planes fly together and travel across the country to perform at events.

“They are sponsored nationwide by POET, which is based here in Sioux Falls,” Small said. “When we were putting our event together, we said we should have that as part of our event. I believe that this is the seventh year that they have been a part of the show.”

This year, the event is back in full swing, and the evening is filled with many festivities that have occurred in the past.

Starting at 7 p.m., attendees can enter the grounds for food, fun and music presented by Groove Entertainment.

“We will have a kids inflatable midway and food trucks, similar to what we have done in the past,” Small said.

The Sioux Falls Municipal Band is returning and will begin playing at 8 p.m.

“(They) have played at the firework show every year for the past 50-plus years,” Small said. “It has been a longstanding tradition, and we are excited to have them back again for 2021.”

At 9 p.m., the POET Ethanol Powered Vanguard Flyover will begin, followed by the fireworks show at 10 p.m..

This year’s fireworks display, however, is going to be much different that shows of the past. Sioux Falls Fireworks, in conjunction with The Fireworkz Store, has announced that the show will feature pyromusical fireworks, or fireworks synchronized with music and lights.

“People can expect a 20-minute show,” said Mike Denning, owner of The Fireworkz Store. “We are going to have fireworks that no one has seen in the Sioux Falls market before because we are licensed to shoot off fireworks that others are not, and you will see that in the show.”

Denning said he believes that this year’s fireworks scene in general will be different across the country because of a record year in sales in 2020, the first one in 45 years.

“I think this year will be an even larger year,” he said. “I have already had customers contact me wanting to purchase three to four times the amount of fireworks they have purchased in the past.”

Attendees are recommended to watch the show from the grandstands at the fairgrounds, where there is free admission.

Community members also are able to watch the show from anywhere and listen to the soundtrack on 93.3 FM.

“You are going to want to be in the grandstands or nearby this year to see all of the layered effects,” Denning said. “Our goal of every show is to provide the wow factor, so we want everyone to leave saying, ‘Wow, I have never seen anything like this before.’ ”

The event wouldn’t happen without sponsors, Small said.

“Without MarketBeat, CarSwap, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort and Sunny Radio, this just would not happen,” he said. “We really appreciate all of the support.”

The founder of MarketBeat, Matt Paulson, said events like these are what make the Sioux Falls community unique.

“Big summer events don’t happen by accident,” he said. “Whether it’s Riverfest, Hot Harley Nights or Independence Day fireworks, there’s a big effort to make these kinds of events happen. We are happy to provide significant financial backing to Sioux Falls’ community fireworks as a way to give back to the community and celebrate our nation’s founding.”

For those wanting to contribute to the fireworks, Grand Falls Casino has a “Giving Back” program. Anyone can go to the resort club at Grand Falls and make a donation. Any donation will result in an equal amount of money put back on one’s resort club card so you can participate in gaming. For example, a $5 donation will result in $5 of play at the casino.

“This is a way for people who love this event to show their support,” Small said. “There is something special about every single person who wants to contribute because it makes it ‘our’ fireworks. It is not the ‘John and Heidi from Sunny’ fireworks, it is the Sioux Falls Fireworks.”