Like many great tales, this one starts in Italy.
In 1889, Constantine Vitale opened a fireworks shop in his small Italian town, turning his passion for pyrotechnics into a family venture.
When he moved to the United States in 1920, he brought that knowledge with him. After settling in New Castle, Pennsylvania – north of Pittsburgh – he established a fireworks company that would later become Pyrotecnico.
More than a century later, the business is now in its fifth generation, creating fireworks, drone and light shows for artists like Cardi B and events like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, as well as local communities across the nation.
But nothing compares to this event.
“I think if he would see the company today, he would probably be incredibly proud, but probably think we were a little crazy,” said Stephen Vitale, Constantine’s great-grandson and current CEO during an interview with NBC News.
On July Fourth in Washington, D. C., Pyrotecnico plans to set off over 850,000 fireworks, aiming to break a world record previously held by a megachurch in the Philippines from ten years ago.
The 40-minute show will be launched from eight barges on the Potomac River along with two land-based locations – West Potomac Park and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. In total, about 58,000 pounds of fireworks were transported from western Pennsylvania to the capital city where 75 Pyrotecnico staff members will make it all happen.
To prepare for this display, designer Jason Farrell traveled globally searching for just the right fireworks. The grand finale will include shells from Spain, Italy and China.
“Each country kind of has their own take on how they create fireworks, so everybody has kind of a specialty of what they do,” Farrell mentioned.
The fireworks will be choreographed to a live soundtrack performed by a military band featuring musicians from various branches of the U. S. armed forces. The playlist covers six decades and includes songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue,” “Sweet Caroline” and “Party in the U. S. A.”
“There’s something about the feeling and the honor of doing a firework display on the Fourth of July in Washington, D. C.,” Vitale expressed. “It’s Independence Day at its best.”
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