Community Corner
Fun and Fireworks: PyroFest Returns to Hartwood Acres Memorial Day Weekend
Organizers of Pyrotecnico's day-long event say this year's festival will be bigger and better.
Organizers of the annual PyroFest at Hartwood Acres are promising an even bigger and better festival this Memorial Day weekend.
Dubbed "America’s largest fireworks festival," the event on Saturday, May 25 is presented by Pyrotecnico, a family-owned fireworks and special effects company headquartered in New Castle.
Organizers estimate more than 8,000 people attended last year's inaugural festival in Hampton Township.
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“After the tremendous amount of positive feedback after the first event, we want to ensure Pyrofest will be an annual Pittsburgh tradition,” Stephen Vitale, president and CEO of Pyrotecnico, said in a news release.
“What better place to host America's largest fireworks festival than in our backyard?”
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Pittsburgh fan-favorite The Clarks are this year's headliner and will kick off the nighttime festivities. Other performers include Cello Fury and Nomad.
PyroFest will also feature a number of pyrotechnic displays including a U.S. military salute daytime display, the inaugural “Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks Challenge,” and a display presented by the internationally-acclaimed Spanish company Ricardo Caballer Ricasa, recently known for producing the closing ceremony fireworks for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
For those who saw the “Rock Loves” display at last year’s PyroFest, the engineers at Pyrotecnico also promise an even better display with the “Rock Loves II" sequel--a big, loud, and tightly choreographed display featuring a surprise structure that will implement 80 foot towers placed right in front of the crowd.
In addition to live music and pyrotechnics, there will be a variety of food and merchandise vendors, and an expanded kid’s zone.
On-site parking at Hartwood Acres is extremely limited and close to being sold out. Attendees who want to have guaranteed parking on-site must purchase a parking pass in advance. Otherwise, they may be asked to park at Hampton High School and use the free shuttle to Hartwood Acres. Buses will run on a continuous loop every 15 minutes beginning at 3 p.m.
Handicapped parking will be located onsite through the Hartwood and Middle Road South entrance. Only vehicles having handicapped license plates or regulation handicapped placards will be permitted to park in these spaces. All others will be ticketed.
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Tickets to PyroFest and on-site parking passes can be purchased at www.pyrofest.com or through ShowClix at www.showclix.com.
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