Every Friday and Saturday night of the summer, the darkened sky sizzles with fireworks launched from Rye’s Playland Park.
But creating those remarkable displays takes a lot of work.
Chief pyrotechnician Charlie DeSalvo of Special FX Wizard, Inc., and his team start preparations for the show days in advance, setting up hundreds of rockets, from smaller ground effects to large aerial fireworks.
“Fireworks are American, just like apple pie, but with a bang,” DeSalvo told The Record. “A successful job is when we make a stockbroker feel like a five-year-old, jumping with joy. No matter their age, everyone loves fireworks.”
Playland’s fireworks are highly popular. Over the Fourth of July weekend, the park had to close early because of the overwhelming number of visitors.
“The roads around Playland were shut down, the beach and boardwalk were packed, and the parking lot was closed,” said DeSalvo, whose company is based in Mastic, N.Y.
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His team uses shells from three to six inches in diameter, requiring a 600-foot fallout radius. That space ensures that no debris falls on the crowd and exceeds National Fire Protection Association regulations. Fireworks are loaded into fiberglass mortars for safety. “Even the smallest safety precaution is taken,” DeSalvo said.
The team typically launches 72 rockets per show at a cost that ranges from $6,500 and up.
The intricate firing process involves electric matches, wire panels, and a firing board. “We send electricity through the panel to the electric match, igniting the fuse and propelling the shell into the sky in the blink of an eye.”
“All materials come weatherproof and they are covered until showtime,” DeSalvo said. “Our crew works under large tents if needed.”
Weather conditions are closely monitored, and shows are postponed for winds more than 20 miles per hour or lightning within five miles.
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“We can fire in rain or snow but prioritize safety,” he added.
The mesmerizing shows are safe, DeSalvo said; there have been no accidents in the past four years at Playland. His company is licensed and insured, and uses environmentally friendly materials. “Our pyrotechnic devices are made with biodegradable materials, limiting fallout. Most devices are self-consuming,” he said.
The Playland crew, including DeSalvo and three other licensed technicians, meticulously plan each show. Crew member John Thomas explained: “The order of the fireworks is decided in-house and follows a system to ensure a seamless progression.”
Special FX Wizard, Inc., is discussing planning a grand $100,000 show for Playland’s 100th anniversary in five years. Their most expensive show to date was a $22 million spectacle in Dubai.
Special FX Wizard, Inc., is known for its displays at MetLife Stadium, Madison Square Garden, and events across Westchester County, as well as locations from Long Island to West Palm Beach, Florida, Dubai, and China.
Despite being the vendor of choice for the Trump Organization and other high-profile clients, DeSalvo and his team say they find the greatest reward in lighting up the night sky in Rye.
