Behind the scenes of Rockford’s Fourth of July fireworks

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Team members were hard at work gearing up for their biggest show of the year, but before they can display it, months of preparation and design took place.

Mike Zuzock, a designer from Melrose Pyrotechnics, said the work begins with an idea for the show. He receives the music that will be played from the radio station, and he then uses the ideas in his head to create the magic that we see displayed.

But that’s just the beginning.

Once the show is fully designed, Zuzock’s team organizes and gathers all of the firework shells they’ll need. They unpack them, individually wire them, connect them to panels, and test them to make sure they are ready to go.

“A lot of people don’t realize what it takes to put everything together,” Zuzock said. “We get the misconception that we’re going to show up and we just shoot things off. It’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of tedious work, but it’s worth it, I guess, for everybody.”

Zuzock said the fireworks are all connected through panels and a computerized system. All of the preparation is worth it, Zuzock said, because on show day, he just needs one button.

“Everything’s designed and we cable it all to a computer,” Zuzock said. “All I have to do is just press a button and syce it. When a radio station tells me to go, we’ll be linked up with their music, and then it shoots everything for me. I don’t have to sit there and push buttons or anything because it does it automatically.”

This year, Zuzock said he really tried to change things up. He encouraged audience members to try and understand why certain fireworks are placed where they are.

“I tell everybody, listen to the music and try to figure out why I’m doing certain channels, certain scenes in the sky, because if it’s a big, bigger hitting song, maybe it’s a bigger break or louder show,” Zuzock said. “If it’s a slow song, I might us strobes, a waterfall, or something else that’s soft. Try to figure it out and enjoy it.”

Zuzock said the best part of his night is not watching his designs unfold but listening to the crowd during the show.

“The best part is actually hearing the crowd,” Zuzock said. “If I hear the crowd roar, then I know I did my job right. It makes me feel good that I made people happy.”

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