Jun 30 2009
Blurt: Fireworks & Lasers & Picnics, Oh My!
It’s summertime, Fun in the Sun! One of the things I love the most about summer is going to see the fireworks. But the one place I love to go the most is Stone Mountain Park™ in Georgia, USA. Holidays, parks, and baseball games are always a great time. I have seen fireworks in many places at lakes, at the beach, at the game, at concerts and even our nation’s capital. It is true Stone Mountain Park™ is local and easier for me to access, however I believe that the Lasershow Spectacular™ that they put on every year is the most enjoyable. It changes from year to year and every year seems better than the year before.
I like to arrive at the park early so I can enjoy the many attractions they offer. I also like to find a picnic table before the crowds get there and snatch them all up. I cook out on the grill and enjoy some family time in the afternoon. It is easy to find a table in the shade to avoid the afternoon sun. Then around 4:00 or 5:00pm, we head over to the north face of the mountain to sit on the lawn. This gives us an opportunity to get a good location for the show and enjoy watching the kids play while we wait for the Lasershow Spectacular™ to begin. It truly lives up to its name. It is a wonderful show filled with lasers, fireworks, surround sound, and special effects all choreographed to music. I love the patriotic grand finale filled with spectacular and amazing fireworks. The whole show lasts about 40 minutes and is definitely the best display I have ever seen. Click here for a link to their webpage showing some excellent photos and offers a highlights video of the event. It also offers several links about the mountain and includes a link to the 2009 Lasershow schedule.
Purchased by the State of Georgia in 1958, Stone Mountain Park™ has been growing in attractions and entertaining guests ever since. It has a vast history pre-dating the civil war and was a major strategically located area for the troops during the war. It offers many historical sites, attractions and information about the civil war. The first tourist attraction was a wooden tower built by Aaron Cloud at the top of the mountain in 1838. It has a Confederate Memorial Carving on the north face of the mountain, the location of the Lasershow Spectacular™, which was originally sketched by Gutzon Borglum, a famous sculptor, in 1915 that began working on it in 1923, delayed because of World War I. To read a complete history click here.
I have always enjoyed fireworks since I was knee high to a grasshopper. I highly recommend taking a trip to Stone Mountain Park™ this summer. Plan on spending a day or two or even the week, there are many activities for you and your whole family to enjoy. They offer Canoeing, Golf, Camping, Lodging, Paddlewheel Riverboat, Sky Hike, Antebellum Plantation, Scenic Railrod, Walk-up Trail, Carillon, Museum, Fishing, Bicycles, and so much more. As you know, I have limited mobility and still find the day to be complete and full of excitement and joy. I have been going there for many years and have seen it grow. It is one of God’s wonderful creations and should not be missed. May God Bless You and provide you a joyful day at the mountain.
PS. I recommend viewing fireworks displays that are put on by professionals. It is much safer and more enjoyable to do so then to purchase them yourself and try to put on a display. If you plan on using fireworks here are a few things to keep in mind.·
- First find out which ones, if any are legal in your area. The majority of states in the USA allows some kind of fireworks but does not allow all types so it is best to check the laws before you decide to purchase.·
- Never light fireworks inside.·
- Never light fireworks near dry grass or crops.·
- Keep a bucket of water handy to extinguish sparklers and/or fireworks. (Sparklers account for one-third of all fireworks related injuries to children under age five.)·
- Keep a fully charged fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it.·
- Keep a water hose handy if available.·
- Stand back several feet away from lit fireworks.·
- Aim fireworks away from you and spectators.·
- Do not wear loose clothing.·
- If one of them does not go off or is a dud, do not stand over at it looking to see why it did not ignite. Extinguish it with water before handling it.·
- Read all instructions and warnings on fireworks.·
- Always supervise children around fireworks.
For more information about Fireworks-Related Injuries click here.
I downloaded and had a look at the video from your first link. Wow!… that’s absolutely incredible!…awesome! We have fireworks for our independence on the 31st of August but nothing that compares to that.
We don’t have the laser shows.I think those laser lights combined with the fireworks sets it apart immensely from other shows with just the fireworks,like ours at home!I like the animated pictures set to the music.
I also had a look at the “Skyride” picture from your history(2nd)link. Wow, how high up is that cable car?It has to be a few thousands of feet up.It looks pretty scary,have you ever taken a ride?
Some good tips for using fireworks if you really wish to.Remember to protect your ears as well as they can cause serious damage to your hearing if you are up close.Also we should think of our pets.Many animals are frightened by loud noises and flashing lights.Maybe keep them locked safely in the house until the fireworks are over.
It is a great show. I have been going to the mountain for over 30 years and it has been a place that I have spent hours of enjoyment. I used to live about 5 minutes from there and would go over there to study while I was in college. I used to love to lay out in the sun and soak up some rays.
I have ridden the Sky lift many times. It is a neat experience to be suspended in the air so high up off the ground looking down. You can get a good look at the carving from the lift and it is the fastest way to the top of the mountain. From the top you can see all the way to Tennessee on a clear day. It is obvious why it was a strategic stronghold during the civil war.
Also, when I was studying geology it was a great example of exfoiliation. The quarries supply granite all over the world and there are buildings in every state of the union that are made from its granite. More than 2/3 of the mountain is underground and stretches south to the middle of the state of Georgia. It truly is fantabulous.
Thanks for the additional safety tips. Take care.
hAv a Gr8 dAy!
Brian, the old man