Fireworks in Packwood, WA

Since Tuesday we have been reminded that there will be fireworks at 10pm sharp on Saturday night (last night) and that we had to go see them, can't miss it.  And - it wasn't broadcast - seems it was word of mouth.  Lasts for 12 minutes but worth your time.  Well, we had our doubts - Packwood has maybe 1000 people here, a grocery store, hardware store, post office, liquor store, and a quilt shop!!!, couple of bars/restaurants, two gas stations, a library, a tourist information center with a gentleman who was so full of things for us to do - mind boggling.  No school - closed in 2004 and kids are bused to the White Pass area, couple of churches, one campground (we are in), three lodges that I know of, and just an ambiance that is so small town it's unbelievable.  Blink and you are through it, so slow down.  What a charming place.

And lots of elks (we call them the kids since they are a year old - being led around by a female who didn't have a baby this year and the kids were kicked out by their moms not long ago - kinda lost) who roam freely around everywhere eating everyone's flowers and plants and grass.  This is a non-incorporated town - we aren't sure how they decide what goes in or out - no government.  The town is a no-kill zone and the kids know it - they are everywhere any time of the day.

The fireworks last night totally, totally blew our minds.  One man put this show on - and he did not scrimp on what he did.  All colors, sizzlers, no cherry bombs - not sure if that's what they are called, but colorful and lasted way longer than 12 minutes.  We walked down a side street to get to where we were told to go to, saw the kids grazing on some yard of course, then waited.  We noticed on the mountain where the town's water tower is a spot light every now and then shining back at this man's home. Maybe 30 cars showed up and parked in the open field where we were, saw that traffic on US 12 came to a halt as passerby's watched. Where was the rest of the townsfolk?

Talked with a woman right before and said that this was - she thought - the second or third year for this guy to do this. He pays for it out of his own pocket, we knew he had help setting off the display because we could hear them woo-hooing after the test ones. He has a home on a bluff overlooking Mt. Rainier and the town, perfect for setting them off.  Afterward we chatted with the lady and she said this guy just got his license to set them off and he was practicing with Packwood, will be setting off fireworks over Clear Lake down the road which will be on the 4th and the significance is that with the fireworks there, Mt. Rainier will be in the backdrop to them.  The lady said he probably spent $5,000 on them - to ourselves we said -  ah, no - over $50,000 !!!!  Our spectulation is that this display was being filmed from the cliff by the water town - maybe for him for advertising, or to tweek what worked and didn't work.  Amazing little town and glad we watched spectacular fireworks.  We said afterward that this was better than what the Cleveland Browns shoot off from the stadium out over Lake Erie - we used to take the sailboat out on the Lake those nights and watch from the water.