Folks in Erie, Pa., take their fireworks seriously. They love watching multi-colored blasts light up the sky, and are used to watching elaborate displays at various sites throughout Erie County. In fact, some might say local fireworks connoisseurs have become downright picky.

The fireworks show last night on Erie's bayfront capped off a July 4th celebration that was a bit different than ones in this region in recent years. For two decades, Mercyhurst College hosted what it billed as "an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration" on its leafy campus in south Erie. Bands, clowns, ice cream stands, and fun activities for the kids had long been a part of the festivities.

Earlier this year, however, Tom Gamble, in his second year as Mercyhurst's president, signed an agreement for the college to donate $500,000 to the City of Erie. The July 4th celebration on campus would end, but an elaborate fireworks display over Presque Isle bay -- called Boom Over the Bay -- would be scheduled on the night of the 4th.

Last night's fireworks went off without a hitch, although a surprising number of Erie folks who grew up attending the Mercyhurst celebration, complained that Boom Over the Bay seemed flat by comparison. In an Erie Times-News story by Steven M. Sweeney, a common theme among those who weren't pleased with the new tradition was that it wasn't as family friendly as the "old fashioned Independence Day celebration" had been.

I should add that the Mercyhurst celebration was free all those years, which made it popular among Erie people, especially families. Surprisingly, it was also popular among neighbors who live near the campus, despite the long lines of traffic that would clog the streets on the big day.
The neighbors would host picnics and reunions, inviting friends and relatives to sit and enjoy the fireworks shows at the end of the night.

That's one of the challenges now: scoping out a good place to watch the fireworks over the bay.

Sweeney's story in today's newspaper captures the mixed reaction of local people to the new fireworks show. Taking your fireworks seriously seems to be a distinctive Erie characteristic. Having a free fireworks show and having it on your own terms is almost a right in this interesting northwestern Pennsylvania city.

Stay tuned, and we'll keep you posted on further developments -- or until more fireworks erupt.

-- Kevin Cuneo

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