If you scroll down to the foot of the Firework Crazy homepage, you’ll note that we’re a proud supporter of Pyrotechnics Guild International (PGI).
We often get asked about PGI and what it means for ourselves as a business and for the fireworks industry around the world as a whole. Here’s an overview of who PGI are and what they do.
Foundation and Purpose of Pyrotechnics Guild International
Founded in 1969 by Max P. Vander Horck, the PGI describes itself on its website as:
“…an independent worldwide nonprofit organization of amateur and professional fireworks enthusiasts.”
The size of the PGI membership – currently stated at 3,500 by the PGI themselves – makes it the world’s largest pyrotechnic enthusiasts community. PGI membership is open to anyone who wishes to join. You don’t need to be a fireworks retailer or firer to join the PGI, any fireworks enthusiasts can become members. We encourage any of our regular customers who consider themselves enthusiasts – if you don’t then why not? – to join the PGI at the earliest opportunity.
The PGI exists both for scientific and educational purposes. Our regular customers and blog readers will be aware that we’re fond of a scientific and educational post ourselves. Check out some of our previous blog posts where we get scientific and educational below:
A School Chemistry Lesson on Fireworks
How Do Fireworks Make Their Sound?
How Do Fireworks Happen?
How Are Sparklers Made?
The PGI states on its website that its own scientific and educational aims are to:
- Promote the safe and responsible display and use of pyrotechnics and fireworks.
- Encourage the display of public and private fireworks in conjunction with local and national holidays as well as patriotic and other events.
- Promote the production and sale of high quality fireworks.
- Channel the creative energies of talented people into the design, production and display of high quality fireworks by example of the membership and through the sharing of knowledge.
Not much to argue with there! These are the aims of Firework Crazy as well as all the other brilliant firework retailers who legally sell fireworks across the United Kingdom throughout the year.
Pyrotechnics Guild International Promotion
As well as the PGI website, which you can access via the link at the top of the article, the PGI provides information to members via periodical bulletin and the PGI Annual Convention, held in a different location across the United States every year. This year’s event was actually on-going at the time of writing!
PGI Annual Convention Information
Convention attendees experience educational workshops and seminars, while fireworks displays occur each evening. Firework competitions – both display and involving the creation of handmade fireworks – also take place, while attendees can buy fireworks. If you’re a United States reader visiting the Firework Crazy blog, ensure you are 100% clear on your state laws if you have travelled to the PGI Annual Convention and are planning to buy fireworks.
What makes the PGI Annual Convention extra special is that it happens on the back of volunteer work from PGI members. PGI members travel from across the United States and the rest of the world to be at the convention and help out.
The end of the convention is marked with what is called the Grand Public Display on Friday night. We’ll bring you any videos of the best of this year’s convention next week.
Further PGI Information
Further information around what the PGI does is available from their website.
While their Fireworks Clubs page exclusively features clubs based in the United States, there is plenty of other information available from the PGI links page that will help you find any information you are looking for.
You can join the PGI yourself here.
Be sure to check out the PGI Distributors Page, too, with Firework Crazy proudly close to the top of the list!
Fireworks Enthusiasts Rejoice!
Again, we encourage all fireworks enthusiasts to join the PGI.
Remember too that our spectacular summer fireworks sale continues on our website, and that our annual Fireworks Review Night is taking place this year on September 24th.
