Locals light night skies

This weekend once the day turns over to night the skies will be filled with spectacular displays of man-made shooting stars celebrating this country’s independence day.

For many people it is pleasure enough to sit back and enjoy this visual eye candy.

However, there are a good amount of people that will get in the act themselves ready to shoot off rockets of their own bathing their front yards in multicolored light.

As a courtesy for these people fireworks stands from Plains to Noxon opened up last week ready to suit the demand for pyrotechnics around the Fourth of July.

These stands open up 10 days before the 4th of July and close the day after the big show on the 5th.

Kathy Clinkenbeard runs “Kat’s Krackers” in Plains and says people are drawn to fireworks because they’re a little bit dangerous and they like that excitement. Plus they’re pretty to watch.

The biggest seller this year so far for the fireworks stand are the M-66s, small firecrackers, and the sparklers, which provide a miniature shower of multi-colored sparks.

Other than that customers like “anything that blows up,” says Clinkenbeard.

For customers that are interested in having a thorough sampling of fireworks, fireworks stands hold “insanity packs” ranging from $34.95 to $74.95.

Kids can also have their own version of these packs called “kiddie packs,” which hold snap pops, parachutes, smoke balls and anything for kids under $5.

It’s not just Montanans who take advantage of these firework stands Clinkenbeard says there are many out-of-staters on vacation who take advantage of Montana’s freedom