![\"WTAE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769019068_844_wtae.png\")
<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThis Independence Day, Washington DC will light up in celebration like never before. *** milestone anniversary calls for *** fireworks display to match the occasion, and behind the bangs, sparks, and flashes you’ll see nationally televised to commemorate the day is *** small town Western Pennsylvania company. The sheer volume of this show is like nothing we’ve ever done. Pyrotechnico, 1\/5 generation company, got their start in 1889 overseas in Italy, eventually bringing the craft of pyrotechnics to New Castle, Pennsylvania in 1922. 137 years later, Pyrotechnico is producing well over 4000 shows every year across the world, offering everything from traditional fireworks to drone shows and special effects like flames and lasers. But on the 4th of July, Pyrotechnico will produce their biggest show ever. We’re going to shoot over 850,000 pyrotechnic devices over 40 minutes from 10 locations in Washington DC. Winning the competitive bid for the salute to America Freedom 250 event at our nation’s capital, the Lawrence County Company started getting ready in February. Weekly meetings with not only our clients but also all the. Organizations, the governmental organizations, so we have to get permits through like National Park Service and FAA and Coast Guard and uh just *** *** slew of Secret Service, all kinds of uh of government agencies that they’re working together to pull this off, and the crew needed to pull this off just as massive while *** standard 4th of July show would require about 6. People to make the magic happen. 75 crew members were shipped out to DC weeks ahead of the big day to start setting up. We’ve been able to convince great friends from Germany, Australia, uh, England, Spain to come over and, and really help us with this heavy lift. 35 tractor trailer full of equipment and pyro, you know, going down there, so, uh. It’s ***, it’s, it’s an amazing amount of equipment and gear. And when he says an amazing amount, he means it. 8 barges on the Potomac River will be filled with fireworks, as will West Potomac Park, and the center of the celebration will be the Lincoln Memorial Reflection Pool. Both sides lined with fireworks leading up to the main stage. It’s just going to be ***, *** sheer spectacle of fireworks wherever you look in DC. And with that spectacle, 850,000 pyrotechnic devices, the company plans on breaking the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest fireworks display ever. The honor currently held by the Church of Christ in the Philippines for their countdown to 2016 New Year celebrations. What matters most to us. for the region and for Newcastle specifically is we want to be *** sense of pride for the community. Elena Lauattra, Pittsburgh’s action news for.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania company to lead record-breaking fireworks display in Washington on July 4<\/p>\n
Pyrotecnico, a New Castle-based company, is behind the massive fireworks show to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary on Independence Day<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tUpdated: 4:51 PM EDT Jul 3, 2026\n\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\tEditorial Standards \u24d8<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\tOn this Independence Day, Washington, D.C., will light up in celebration like never before. America’s 250th birthday is a milestone anniversary, and it calls for a fireworks display to match the occasion.Pyrotecnico, a small-town Western Pennsylvania company, is behind the bangs, sparks and flashes you’ll see nationally televised to commemorate the Fourth of July.”The sheer volume of this show is like nothing we’ve ever done,” said Chris Mele, regional director of Pyrotecnico.The fifth-generation company got its start in 1889 in Italy before eventually bringing the craft of pyrotechnics to New Castle, Lawrence County, in 1922.Over 100 years later, Pyrotecnico annually produces more than 4,000 shows worldwide. It offers everything from traditional fireworks to drone shows and special effects like flames and lasers.This year, Pyrotecnico will produce its biggest show ever on July 4.”We’re going to shoot over 850,000 pyrotechnic devices over 40 minutes from 10 locations in Washington, D.C.,” said Stephen Vitale, CEO of Pyrotecnico.The Lawrence County company won a competitive bid for the “Salute to America” Freedom 250 event in the nation’s capital, and started getting ready in February.”Weekly meetings with not only our client, but also all the governmental organizations that we have to get permits through, like National Park Service and FAA and Coast Guard, and just a slew, Secret Service, all kinds of government agencies that are working together to pull this off,” Mele said.A standard Fourth of July show would require about six people to make the magic happen. For this extravaganza, 75 crew members were shipped out to Washington weeks ahead of the big day to start setting up.\u201cWe’ve been able to convince great friends from Germany, Australia, England, Spain to come over and really help us with this heavy lift,\u201d Vitale said.\u201cThirty-five tractor-trailers full of equipment and pyro going down there,” Mele said. “It’s an amazing amount of equipment and gear.”Eight barges on the Potomac River will be filled with fireworks, as will West Potomac Park. The center of the celebration will be the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, both sides lined with fireworks leading up to the main stage.\u201cIt’s just going to be a sheer spectacle of fireworks wherever you look in D.C.,\u201d Mele said.With this spectacle of 850,000 pyrotechnic devices, the company plans on breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest fireworks display. It’s an honor currently held by the Church of Christ in the Philippines for their \u201cCountdown to 2016 New Year Celebrations.\u201d\u201cWhat matters most to us for the region, and for New Castle, specifically, is we want to be a sense of pride for the community,\u201d Vitale said.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tNEW CASTLE, Pa. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n On this Independence Day, Washington, D.C., will light up in celebration like never before. America’s 250th birthday is a milestone anniversary, and it calls for a fireworks display to match the occasion.<\/p>\n Pyrotecnico, a small-town Western Pennsylvania company, is behind the bangs, sparks and flashes you’ll see nationally televised to commemorate the Fourth of July.<\/p>\n “The sheer volume of this show is like nothing we’ve ever done,” said Chris Mele, regional director of Pyrotecnico.<\/p>\n The fifth-generation company got its start in 1889 in Italy before eventually bringing the craft of pyrotechnics to New Castle, Lawrence County, in 1922.<\/p>\n Over 100 years later, Pyrotecnico annually produces more than 4,000 shows worldwide. It offers everything from traditional fireworks to drone shows and special effects like flames and lasers.<\/p>\n This year, Pyrotecnico will produce its biggest show ever on July 4.<\/p>\n “We’re going to shoot over 850,000 pyrotechnic devices over 40 minutes from 10 locations in Washington, D.C.,” said Stephen Vitale, CEO of Pyrotecnico.<\/p>\n