At this time of year, you can buy fireworks in open tents in parking lots all over North Carolina. This was unheard of in New England, so I decided to check it out with my camera.  As soon as I started snapping pictures, the proprietor took great issue: “you getting pictures of my prices? Huh?” He was southern-nice, but clearly about to toss me out on my ear.  When you do street photography you always have a story ready though, so I went into my act: “Oh! I’m hoping you can help me, I have no idea what any of this stuff is.  My sister is coming down with her kids, I want to get them something fun and she wants it to be safe.  I figured I’d let her pick out what to get, if you can tell me what these are.”

So of course he became very helpful and I ended up buying a bunch of stuff to make it look good, but it’s a little disturbing.  He picked up a canister — and this thing was as big as a small bucket — and said it was totally safe because it didn’t “propel” into the air.  In NC, all fireworks are safe because they stay on the ground, apparently.  However, he allowed that it sent a shower of sparks 20 feet high and 20 feet in diameter, and was the same as you see “in a professional fireworks show, but they stay on the ground”.

Now can someone tell me how that is “perfectly safe”?  And furthermore, the packaging is clearly designed to appeal to children.  “Ooooh, this one looks cute, it was a little birdie on it,” But no, some people won’t buy the stuff because, in his words, “it’s TOO safe”.

I didn’t start out planning a diatribe against fireworks, I just wanted to show this interesting retail niche.  So, without further ado, I present the “Dancing Sombreros”.  Sounds like a mariachi band, but louder.