TERRE HAUTE —
The Fourth of July is the big money-making season for fireworks vendors around the state.
But a drought can be bad for business.
Despite a statewide burning ban in effect — and Vigo County officials’ urging area residents to pass on the sparklers, firecrackers and roman candles — some local fireworks vendors are still doing a brisk business.
At USA Fireworks on Indiana 150 west of West Terre Haute, several customers were inside Monday morning making their selections for the upcoming holiday.
One female customer purchased several bags of fireworks totalling almost $100.
That kind of sale is typical, said store manager Tonya Francis.
“Sales are down a little,” Francis said, “but it’s always like this with the Fourth in the middle of the week.”
Usually, the weekends before and after a mid-week Fourth are the big sale days.
Many of the people purchasing fireworks are saying they plan to wait until the environment is not so dry, she said.
“I’ve been doing this 11 years,” she said. “We have never had this type of weather. It’s crazy, that’s for sure.”
Being located so close to the Illinois-Indiana state line, the store sees many customers coming from Illinois. It is illegal to purchase or set off fireworks in Illinois, Francis explained.
One of the big sellers this year, as usual, are the Excalibur fireworks that shoot high into the air with explosive bursts.
Francis said she has noticed this year that while sales have been steady, people don’t seem to be setting off fireworks in advance of the Fourth of July.
“Usually, we can sit around outside and hear them going off,” she said. “But this year, we [have] heard maybe only a couple so far.”
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Popular kaboom: Tonya Francis, a manager at USA Fireworks in West Terre Haute, demonstrates how one of the store's most popular items, the Excalibur, is loaded Monday.
Discussion
Season could be a dud for fireworks sellers
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