Spokane Will See Stars Carol Channing Will Blow Off Roof, Then Fireworks Will Blast Across Sky

Tonight’s fireworks at Riverfront Park will begin 20 minutes later than usual so Carol Channing can deliver her own pyrotechnics first at the Opera House in the finale of “Hello, Dolly!”

The $17,000 fireworks show, which caps Neighbor Days activities in the park, will begin at 10:20 p.m. as the curtain closes on the Channing musical.

The late start is “better anyhow because the sky’s a little bit darker. If it’s a clear night it isn’t dark enough at 10 o’clock,” said Rich Vaughan of Pyro Spectacular, the company producing the display.

The show’s 1,200 exploding shells were manufactured in seven countries. Flower patterns from China, “silver serpents” from the United States and exotic special effects from Germany are highlights.

Vaughan will choreograph the 18-minute show, directing workers as they lower ball-shaped shells into plastic tubes in sand-filled boxes. The fireworks’ fuses will be wired to a control panel. Vaughan will fire the shells by pushing buttons.

The company switched manufacturers on some of its shells so the show will look new and different - at least to the discerning eye of a “pyro” like Vaughan.

Neighbor Days organizers hope for clear skies, but the

show will go on if there’s a little rain. Wind could cause postponement to avoid the danger of blowing hot debris.

On Monday, Vaughan was coordinating the setup of 21 Fourth of July displays in the region.

It’s a lot of work, he said.

“But after the show when you hear people yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs and honking their horns, it’s all worthwhile.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Two Color Photos