This Fourth of July, officials are issuing another reminder that fireworks are illegal, and that the pyrotechnics should be left to the professionals.
Luckily, if you still want a fireworks fix, pyrotechnicians are working hard, preparing for the Star Spangled Sparks show on Wednesday. Pyrotechnicians with Lantis Fireworks said it takes five days of preparation to get it all set up on the roof of John Ascuaga's Nugget.
"Every year, every show, is a new challenge," Lantis Head Pyrotechnician Cory Wilcox said. "We always try to do our very best. We always try to outdo our last."
The Lantis crew will be at it for as much as 18 hours a day, to get 5,000 pounds of explosives ready to entertain the crowd on Wednesday.
This is the 13th year that the Nugget has set off fireworks on the Fourth of July. This year, the show will last about 20 minutes, with new effects, new music, and some new surprises.
"It gets kind of tough," Nugget Advertising Manager Randy Kennedy said. "This is our 13th, so topping yourself every year is not always the easiest thing. But we get such great support that it makes it easy to have a great show."
If you're planning on heading to Victorian Plaza on Wednesday there are some road closures to keep in mind.
Victorian Avenue will close between Pyramid Way and 14th Street at 8:00am. C Street westbound from Pyramid will be closed by 6:00pm, and 10th and 11th Streets between C Street and Victorian Avenue will also close by 6:00pm.
Once the Nugget's parking garage and the two City parking garages are full, there will be no car access to those garages.
Anyone who parks on the south side of Interstate 80 will only be able to travel east on Nugget Avenue to either Pyramid Way or McCarran Boulevard.
Eastbound Prater from 15th Street will close after the firework show for approximately 30 minutes.
Sparks Police are strongly encouraging visitors to take the free shuttle between Legends and the Nugget that will run continuously during the event.
Parking at Legends is available between Popeye's Chicken and Fuddruckers.
Written by Arianna Bennett
