Fireworks in Cobb: What to Know

Fireworks are a staple of the Fourth of July and stores across Georgia are gearing up for celebrations on Thursday.

Although Independence Day is the busiest time of year for fireworks stores, Smyrna-based Sky King Fireworks General Manager Greg Cook said sales can fluctuate depending on the day of the week the holiday lands.

“It’s not just this gradual increase. Some years, you see highs and lows, even on July first through the fourth,” Cook said. “The sales can be inconsistent, but we know it’s going to come. It’s just a matter of how long people have off from work.”

Because the holiday lands on a Thursday this year, Cook said the store can expect more revenue due to companies taking a longer weekend.

At Super Show Fireworks of Marietta, regional manager Brian Lilly said sales can drastically change overnight.

“Typically, we’re doing about $15,000 a day, and then on the third and the fourth, we’re jumping up to $50 to $70,000 a day,” Lilly said. “I would say the amount of people on the Fourth of July, maybe around 5,000 people come through here.”

Fireworks to Look Out for

Cook said the most requested item in the store are traditional fireworks that shoot into the air. Although they do not sell professional-grade fireworks, Sky King Fireworks offers a variety of consumer fireworks for customers and tries to cater to as many budgets as possible.

“They are fireworks that you can use safely in your backyard...they all perform in a similar way,” Cook said. “If you want to come in and spend 50 bucks, you can. If you want to come in and spend $2,000, you can.”

If a customer is new to buying fireworks, the store offers QR codes on each of their products. After scanning the code, customers are taken to a YouTube video showing what the firework will look like after it has been lit.

“(Customers) want to know what they’re buying, so the only way to do that is to show a video beyond going on our recommendations,” Cook said.

Sky King has been offering this feature for about 10 years, but it became more popular after the pandemic, according to Cook.

The largest firework the store offers customers is the “Mic Drop,” a product meant to be the grand finale of a show.

According to its packaging, the product offers 474 individual shots that explode in a variety of effects including color comets, whistling comets, and a brocade crown. The “Mic Drop” is selling for $749.99.

Sky King Fireworks has a year-round sale of 50% off all fireworks in the store. They also try to push sales on individual items using other sales throughout the year.

For customers that like a louder firework, the “Earth Shaker” at Super Show Fireworks is the way to go. A product produced by the store itself, Lilly said this firework is one of the store’s best-selling products. It is selling for $85 in the store.

Another popular item with Super Show customers is their adult snappers, which produce loud popping sounds after being thrown on the ground. Management even allows customers to try the product inside the store.

“When I say that we carry superior product, it is not said lightly,” Lilly said. “I go out and do (professional) shows, and I use the products from the store.”

Super Show also offers a “safety shooter” training course throughout the year to help customers get their foot in the door of professional pyrotechnics. Lilly said the store believes safety is key.

“People get hurt every year, and I don’t want any of my customers getting hurt,” he said.

Firework Hours and Safety Tips

According to Marietta Fire Department Assistant Chief Cliff Bolen, Cobb County residents are allowed to shoot fireworks between 10 a.m. and midnight on July 3 and 4.

Outside those days, fireworks are banned between the hours of 9 p.m. to 10 a.m., according to the Cobb County communications department.

Fireworks and other pyrotechnics are prohibited at all county parks including historical sites, recreational areas or state property. It is also illegal to discharge fireworks within 100 yards of gas stations, refineries, jails, hospitals, nursing homes or other health care facilities.

To help keep pets calm during firework shows, a spokesperson from the East Marietta Animal Hospital recommends using ThunderShirts, a compression vest for dogs and cats, or getting a prescription of Sileo from your local veterinarian.

As for safety tips, Cobb County communications and firework stores recommend keeping a bucket of water or a hose on-hand in case of fire.

According to Bolen, one of the biggest issues the Marietta Fire Department regularly sees is residents discarding used fireworks in their trash cans when they are not completely extinguished. The fire department recommends discarding used fireworks into buckets of water for a minimum of eight to 10 hours to ensure they are fully extinguished.

For a full list of safety tips, visit the Cobb County Communications website at https://www.cobbcounty.org/communications/news/fireworks-ordinances-cobb-county.