Firecracker Alley 2009
If you google "firecraker alley," my blog post from last year is the second result!
Like last year, after I got done loading shells for the Henderson Bay show, I popped over to Firecracker Alley, the collection of stands on the Puyallup Reservation, to poke around a little.
I wasn't looking for anything too specific, just some fun little stuff to play with there during the day just to light some fuses and have a few little items saved up for when I need to smell a little smoke. I was also keeping my eyes open for wheels, because my uncle really wanted some and we didn't find any on our shopping trip the other day.
There weren't really any surprises, but some of the prices were actually decent for retail stands, at least for 200g cakes. I saw 500g cakes for anywhere from $50 to $150+. There was a wide variety of brands available, nothing seemed to dominate. I spotted Brothers, World Class, Red Rhino, Great Grizzly, Hales labels, etc.
I wasn't looking for anything too specific, just some fun little stuff to play with there during the day just to light some fuses and have a few little items saved up for when I need to smell a little smoke. I was also keeping my eyes open for wheels, because my uncle really wanted some and we didn't find any on our shopping trip the other day.
There weren't really any surprises, but some of the prices were actually decent for retail stands, at least for 200g cakes. I saw 500g cakes for anywhere from $50 to $150+. There was a wide variety of brands available, nothing seemed to dominate. I spotted Brothers, World Class, Red Rhino, Great Grizzly, Hales labels, etc.
One thing I was looking for were very small fountains (1-3"), they have a soft spot in my heart and are usually very cheap and quiet, so they are a fun way to smell a little smoke without annoying anybody. Of course this is a WA reservation, so nobody really wants tiny little fountains. After looking at practically every stand, the best I could find were little assortments that included a bunch of crap I didn't want, like whistles, smoke and confetti shooters. Who knew I would miss something about Oregon fireworks? I did end up getting two Purple Rain and a pack of assorted BC fountains, but those are too bit for what I was looking for!
The other thing I was looking for was wheels, because my uncle really wanted some and we didn't see any at the four stands we checked out the other day. I looked at every single stand (around 60) and nobody had them. On the bright side, I discovered that it was a good defense against annoyingly aggressive stand owners. They would shout about how I should check them out and when I asked for something they didn't have, they would shut up...
The other thing I was looking for was wheels, because my uncle really wanted some and we didn't see any at the four stands we checked out the other day. I looked at every single stand (around 60) and nobody had them. On the bright side, I discovered that it was a good defense against annoyingly aggressive stand owners. They would shout about how I should check them out and when I asked for something they didn't have, they would shut up...
Right - Just a funny sign. I showed my wife and she wasn't nearly as amused as I was!
After buying a few things, I went out to their open parking lot to shoot stuff, after a day of dropping shells and looking at stands, I needed to light something! I just lit a few small items that aren't wanted in the daytime, like spinners, the video is at the bottom of the post.
Having gotten a few little things, but feeling slightly defeated on the fountains and wheels, I headed back to the freeway to go home. Halfway to the freeway, I saw a stand that was set up more like a store and had to make one more stop!
They were pretty good, with a larger selection than any of the stands, including more fountains and novelties. They also had a decent selection of 500g and pretty good variety of 200g and shells. They didn't have the littlest fountains I was hoping for, but they did have some classics like Jack In The Box and 1' TNT Amazing Fountain, I'll probably have to light one tonight...
After buying a few things, I went out to their open parking lot to shoot stuff, after a day of dropping shells and looking at stands, I needed to light something! I just lit a few small items that aren't wanted in the daytime, like spinners, the video is at the bottom of the post.
Having gotten a few little things, but feeling slightly defeated on the fountains and wheels, I headed back to the freeway to go home. Halfway to the freeway, I saw a stand that was set up more like a store and had to make one more stop!
They were pretty good, with a larger selection than any of the stands, including more fountains and novelties. They also had a decent selection of 500g and pretty good variety of 200g and shells. They didn't have the littlest fountains I was hoping for, but they did have some classics like Jack In The Box and 1' TNT Amazing Fountain, I'll probably have to light one tonight...
Left - Inside the store, called Fireworks Outlet.
Prices on 200g were decent (didn't look at prices on 500g or shells), I was surprised to see some of the 24/1 200g cakes as low as $8. Sure, you can get them for $2-3 each wholesale, but they are still a good bargain for the price-conscious consumer. They also had wheels! They had two large wheels, WC Spinning on Dubs ($25) and Vulcan Mammoth Wheel ($32). I wasn't about to spend that much on wheels, so I walked out with a few packs of small fountains. At the car I decided I wanted a picture of the wheels because the WC one was pretty cool, when I realized that next to those was a smaller wheel that only cost $5.50 (GG Hot Stuff)! It was in a box so I didn't realize what it was the first time, but quickly purchased two of them. I called my uncle to let him know I finally found him some wheels and he was at my place within 15 minutes of me getting home to pick them up! I'll have to see if I can find him more for next year.
Prices on 200g were decent (didn't look at prices on 500g or shells), I was surprised to see some of the 24/1 200g cakes as low as $8. Sure, you can get them for $2-3 each wholesale, but they are still a good bargain for the price-conscious consumer. They also had wheels! They had two large wheels, WC Spinning on Dubs ($25) and Vulcan Mammoth Wheel ($32). I wasn't about to spend that much on wheels, so I walked out with a few packs of small fountains. At the car I decided I wanted a picture of the wheels because the WC one was pretty cool, when I realized that next to those was a smaller wheel that only cost $5.50 (GG Hot Stuff)! It was in a box so I didn't realize what it was the first time, but quickly purchased two of them. I called my uncle to let him know I finally found him some wheels and he was at my place within 15 minutes of me getting home to pick them up! I'll have to see if I can find him more for next year.
Right - My combined purchases. The cake, BC and TNT fountains, and ground blooms (free) were from Firecracker Alley. I also got two Pyro Predator Jumbo Strobe to see if they are any good. The Jack In The Box 6 pack, Happiness Fountain 6-pack, and two Amazing Fountain 4-packs were from Fireworks Outlet.
I didn't find any many little fountains as I would have liked, but I'm happy I found a couple, as well as some wheels for my uncle. It was a lot of fun wandering around the stands and checking things out, but it is extra fun when you know you can get much better deals...
Below is video of the items I lit while at Firecracker Alley, try not to have a seizure from all the camera jerking...
Have a safe 4th!
I didn't find any many little fountains as I would have liked, but I'm happy I found a couple, as well as some wheels for my uncle. It was a lot of fun wandering around the stands and checking things out, but it is extra fun when you know you can get much better deals...
Below is video of the items I lit while at Firecracker Alley, try not to have a seizure from all the camera jerking...
