fireworks

The announcement was made in a post earlier today that the decision had been made to cancel this year's Annual July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza.

A pretty common question that I get asked from people that aren't from here is, "How do you celebrate July 4th in East Texas?"

You expect some loud bangs and some colorful displays from fireworks, but some fireworks apparently have too much bang and are being recalled because they are a hazard to public safety.

July 4th is coming up on Wednesday, and here in Deep East Texas, you've got two big choices of where to watch the fireworks.

Dogs just don't understand Independence Day. We know the loud booms and bangs are to show how much we love our freedom, but dogs must think the world is caving in and they're about to get some shrapnel right in the hiney. We've got some ways to help calm the doggie jitters.

It's been a year since Jason Pierre-Paul of the New York Giants injured his hand in a gruesome fireworks accident, and he's been doing quite a few interviews lately about he dangers of fireworks.  Have you seen the pics?  They look like something out of the movies. Don't eat first. Visits to ERs in East Texas will be up this week because of fireworks-related injuries, but you can protect yourself.

Is your dog spending the next few days shaking in the corner, or hiding under the bed?  Mine too.  The fireworks are a blast for everyone except the pups.

The 4th of July is on a Friday this year, so it's a three-day weekend to chill out, barbecue, and watch the fireworks.  And if you're a competitive eater or just hungry, you can win prizes in a hot-dog-eating contest in Nacogdoches.

It's a Fourth of July tradition - get the family together, grill up some burgers & dogs, enjoy one of our local festivals or fairs, and then get on a picnic blanket and watch the fireworks that celebrate our country's freedom. Sound good to you? Check out the Nacogdoches and Lufkin celebrations here.

It seems like there's always concern in Texas about fireworks around the 4th of July, and how those mix with what's usually extreme heat and little rain. This year things are better than in years past, with the grass a little greener than usual, and weather that's slightly cooler this week.  Are bans in place?

Got your fireworks yet? There are just two opportunities each year to buy fireworks in Texas - near the 4th of July, and new New Year's Eve. Business is good right now at local fireworks stands. Even though there has been some recent moisture, it's been another dry year. And fireworks and piles of dry leaves don't mix.

It’s an interesting dilemma for parents today. Kids love watching fireworks, but the public displays can’t start until it gets dark, and that means we have to wait 9:30 or 10:00 to catch a glimpse of the fireworks, and by the time we get the kids home to bed it’s 11:00 or later. That’s LATE if you have kids under five years old. And then Thursday is a big ole mess with those little biological cloc