Fireworks Show More Than Just Fun

It's just not Independence Day without fireworks and the sky will be lit up across Green Country starting Thursday night. The News On 6's Jeffrey Smith reports for the professionals who work behind the scenes, getting ready for the fireworks is a show in itself.

Before the shells go boom in the night, Tom Payne has to think about getting everything ready.

"This absolutely is a six month preparation. The finale racks, we start building them in the first of the year," said Tom Payne of Imperial Fireworks.

"Tom and them started last 4th of July re-ordering shells for the year," said fireworks technician Clint Duckett.

Payne is in charge of the Friday night show at Skiatook Lake where he's expecting 8,000 people.

"In three minutes and nine seconds we're going to put a thousand or more shells in the air," said Payne.

In total, Payne's team will light 8,000 firework rounds.

"Our goal tonight is to keep the sky lit up. We're not going to let it get dark," said Payne.

A few miles away, Drillers Stadium is preparing for their own display.

"Baseball, hot dogs, fireworks, you know, it's kind of American," said Asst General Manager Jason George.

They're expecting 6,000 fans to watch and that means a lot of extra food for the kids.

"We make sure we have plenty of cotton candy, snow cones, the stuff the kids would like," said Concessions Manager Linda Kenworthy.

Back at Skiatook Lake, Payne's crew needs nine hours to get every round unpacked.

"Work until the sun goes down and then play," said Duckett.

Once the show's over, kids will be counting down the days till next 4th of July and for the big kids who run the show, they'll be thinking about it, too.

The Drillers have another fireworks show Friday night.