LUMBERTON — As the nation approaches its 241st birthday on Tuesday, the advice of local enforcement to those who want an explosive celebration is to leave it to the professionals.
There will be opportunities to watch fireworks shows without putting yourself at risk in Lumberton on Monday and St. Pauls and Rennert on Tuesday. For those who want their own pyrotechnics show, it’s good to remember a simple rule about North Carolina law: If it explodes or leaves the ground, it’s illegal.
There will be plenty of explosions at the city of Lumberton’s Family Fourth celebration Monday at Lumberton High School’s football stadium. The gates open at 6 p.m. for the free event that will feature entertainment by Dark Water Rising, a parachute jump team, inflatables and face-painting. Vendors will be selling concessions. The entertainment starts at 7:30 p.m, and the fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.
Parkton will be the site of a parade sponsored by the Parkton Ruritans that starts at 11:30 a.m. on July Fourth, which is Tuesday. The opening ceremony is at 9 a.m. in The Memory Park next to Town Hall.
In Rennert, the festivities begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday with a parade through town. The daylong celebration also includes Gospel singing, vendors selling various food and items, and games for children. The town’s fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m.
St. Pauls will celebrate the Fourth of July on Tuesday as well. There will be a fireworks display at 8:30 p.m. at the fire station at 585 W. McLean St.
For those who want their own fireworks show, these are allowed in North Carolina: flares and fountains, smoke and novelty items, sparklers and black snakes and strobes. Not allowed are reloadable aerial shells 1.75 inches, single-shot aerial tubes, bottle rockets, skyrockets and missiles, ground spinners, pinwheels, helicopters, Roman candles, multi-shot aerial devices, and cakes. Some other tips:
— Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.
— Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting.
— A responsible adult should supervise all firework activities. Never give fireworks to children.
— Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Save your alcohol for after the show.
— Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
— Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
— Use fireworks outdoors in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.
— Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
— Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
— Never carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them into metal or glass containers.
— Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
— Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and placing in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials.
— Report illegal explosives, like M-80s and quarter sticks, to the fire or police department.
— Don’t put pets at risk.