TERRE HAUTE —
Just as Rudolph saved Christmas, The Landing may have saved the Fourth of July.
The Landing on Fort Harrison Road on the edge of the Wabash River will be hosting its annual “Light up the Wabash” celebration today, including one of the few large-scale fireworks shows in the area — in fact, the only public show in Terre Haute.
The decision to go ahead with the show at The Landing came despite several area shows, including the citywide show at Fairbanks Park, being postponed until further notice due to the extremely hot and dry conditions.
Fireworks shows have also been canceled or postponed in Paris and Marshall in Illinois, and Linton, Clinton and Brazil in Indiana.
However, on Monday, The Landing announced it was going ahead with its show.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. today for the “Light up the Wabash” festival at The Landing. Admission is $3 per person and includes access to all games, music, and also food and beverage vendors.
Pyrotechnics expert Jim Stanfill inspected the grounds on the Landing’s golf course where the “shooting” will take place. He said Terre Haute Fire Chief Jeff Fisher also inspected the area on Monday.
A Terre Haute Fire Department truck will be on site during the show, Stanfill said, adding that the grass on the golf course at the Landing is not as dry as in places where shows have been called off this year.
“This is green” in comparison with the grass at other potential shoot sites, Stanfill said Monday afternoon while inspecting the launch area for the show.
Stanfill’s fireworks team, working for Aerial Arts Fireworks of Brazil, has been launching shows from the Landing, formerly the Terre Haute Elks Club, for close to 30 years, he said. “We’re familiar with the grounds. We’re familiar with the wind patterns.”
At other launch sites, such as the one used by the City of Terre Haute near Fairbanks Park, the surrounding grass and vegetation is “brown and crunchy,” Stanfill said, making it hazardous for a pyrotechnics show.
In contrast, the grass around the shoot site at the Landing golf course has been watered frequently in the past weeks, keeping it from becoming dangerously dry, he said.
“The whole watering effect really helps us out,” said Cara Mackenzie, banquet coordinator for The Landing. “They are going to water all of the area where we anticipate any sparks will fall.”
In a typical year, The Landing expects about 2,000 visitors for “Light up the Wabash.” This year, because it is one of the few fireworks shows in the Wabash Valley, about 4,000 people may attend, Mackenzie said.
A little rain late Monday may have also added to the safety of tonight’s show. However, Stanfill asks that spectators also use common sense while watching the 25- to 30-minute show, set to begin at 10:10 p.m. A discarded cigarette could cause dry patches to catch fire, he said.
Stanfill’s pyrotechnics team will include 16 “shooters” and 10 additional safety/support crew, he said. The safety crew will wander the launch area looking for any stray embers or burning debris.
“In 25 years, we’ve never had a drought this early,” Stanfill said. “We’re usually worried about rain. I’m hoping the people realize we’re lucky to have a show at all this year in Terre Haute.”
Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Pyro: Jim Stanfill is the supervising pyrotechnist for the fireworks show at The Landing Tuesday night. Stanfill is checking the launch area prior to setting up for the event.
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Pyrotechnist: Jim Stanfill will supervise the fireworks shoot at The Landing Tuesday evening. Fire department officials and owners of the business have agreed that it is safe to shoot the fireworks from the heavily watered golf course.
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Shooter: The photo at right is a shooter firing a shell during a previous show at The Landing. It shows the amount of debris thrown into the air during launch.
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Course inspection: Pyrotechnist Jim Stanfill and Tribune-Star reporter Arthur Foulkes inspect the area where Tuesday's fireworks display at The Landing will be launched.
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Spokesperson: Spokesperson for The Landing, Cara Mackenzie, talks with Tribune-Star reporter Arthur Foulkes about the fireworks scheduled for Tuesday night.
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Launch: Jim Stanfill displays some photographs showing how much fiery debris is thrown into the air during the launch of fireworks from a past show at The Landing.
Discussion
The only fireworks show in town
Landing’s ‘Light up the Wabash’ launches tonight
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