In my previous blog post, I had mentioned we were in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Why? We were there for the Winter Blast!
Let’s start with describing what the Winter Blast is. Winter Blast is short for the “30th Annual Western Winter Blast Pyrotechnics Show”. Every year, the Western Pyrotechnic Association holds its annual trade show/conference in Lake Havasu City, launching their wares adjacent to the SARA Park Rodeo Grounds. Amateur pyros take classes and build fireworks by day and shoot them off by night. Professional firework firms also put on nightly firework shows. The Friends of the Fair, a non-profit, piggy-backs on the Winter Blast as a fund raiser. They charge RVs to dry camping at their Rodeo Grounds, a location that gives you prime viewing for the firework displays during the week.
We arrived on Monday just as the gates opened and were speedily parked on Boomer Row. A quick check of the Boomers Facebook page announced Happy Hour would be at 4:00. Yes, let’s kick off Winter Blast the right way! It was nice to be with a smaller group of people (compared to Quartzsite), you got to know each much better.
The firework displays didn’t start until Wednesday, so we had a few days to explore the area. I already detailed our Jeep excursion. We also visited the London Bridge. Yes, the guy who developed Lake Havasu City also bought the London Bridge from the city of London, took it apart, and reassembled it in Arizona. It’s the number two tourist attraction after the Grand Canyon. It was odd to see the juxtaposition of an 1830’s bridge against the palm trees!
The Boomers met up at a local microbrewery one afternoon. One of couple’s daughter works for Pyro Spectaculars, one of the professional companies that was putting on a show that night. The daughter joined our meet-up and regaled us with stories of the fireworks business. Wow!!! This was a high point for us.
When Wednesday arrived, it was fireworks time. It was nice being parked on one of the upper levels of the Rodeo Grounds; you could watch the fireworks from your rig if desired! We learned that 6:00 to 7:30 was “Open Shoot” where the amateur pyros could shoot off their fireworks. 7:30 to 8:30 was the show put on by the pros. Then 8:30 to 10:00 was more Open Shoot.
There were a number of ways to view the fireworks. If you chose, you could walk or drive to the race track from which the fireworks were being shot off. Some people would find a spot on the edge of the camping area from which to view. Others climbed a dirt hill to get a view from a higher elevation. Finally, if you were parked with your windows facing the race track, you could view the fireworks from the comfort of your RV.
to view the video.
I highly suggest you check out Dan and Amy’s blog on the Winter Blast. You can find it at https://danandamyk.com/2019/02/18/sara-park-rodeo-grounds/. Dan got some great photos. The not so great photos below are mine.
We had a great time at the Winter Blast. We walked away with a lot of memories, great pictures and some new friends. Most of us will be at the Escapade Rally in Tucson and will meet up again!
After the Winter Blast…
Just a quick little blurb here. After the Winter Blast, Paul and Kay headed northward (into snow!) and we, along with Dan and Amy, headed south to Yuma, Arizona. Dan and Amy wrote an informative blog about our 5 days here and I’m just lazy enough to let their words speak for us. Read it at https://danandamyk.com/2019/02/22/fortuna-de-oro-rv-resort/ (thanks guys!). Dan and Amy took off today for California. We will do the same tomorrow. Staying past our original three free nights here was a good idea. My Dad who lives just south of Tucson had snow yesterday. Yikes! But the weather is turning warmer and we are ready to head back out into the desert.
Fireworks in the middle of winter — yay!!!! Hope you had some ear protectors. You did a fine job with the pictures, Corinne. Enjoyed Dan and Amy’s blog as well.
Great photos Corinne! Looks like a great time was had by all! Loved the firework intel and photos. Fascinating!