FORT MILL, S.C. — Fireworks in South Carolina are flying off shelves as people prepare to light up the sky for the Fourth of July.
"It has been kind of insane, but it is always exciting when people come together to celebrate the Fourth of July," said Regina Toney, the digital media manager for Area51 Fireworks in Fort Mill.
It’s one of the busiest weekends of the year for fireworks stores.
“We like it for people to come in as early as possible so that you can find the best variety,” said Kim Pyles, seasonal manager for Red Rocket Fireworks. “Now we have not had any distribution issues, so we have been really stocked."
Pyles said the store has some very popular items that are marked down as low as they can possibly be. Meanwhile, Area51 has seen over 3,000 customers Saturday.
“I know there is inflation, and everything is going up,” explained Toney, "but we are adamant about giving our customers the best deals and savings when it comes to enjoying the holiday.”
Those are deals that have customers like Michael Buchanan shelling out the big bucks.
“If it is to buy one get one free or it’s one that shoots a lot of times -- that is what you want,” he said.
Rolling out with a full shopping cart, Buchanan is ready to put on a big show for his loved ones.
“We have been doing it for years,” he said. “I’m almost 50 years old and my uncle used to do it for us, and we couldn’t wait for him to pull up. Now I just keep the tradition going.”
One thing store owners want to hammer home: don’t let your festivities turn into a tragedy. Safety is key. Make sure to buy your fireworks from a licensed dealer.
“You don’t want to buy fireworks out of somebody’s trunk, no matter how good the deal is or how enticing it may be,” said Pyles. “You need to come into somebody who is licensed, so you know those products have been properly tested and meet all of the government standards.”
Keep fireworks away from young children and pets. Moreover, have plenty of water to douse the fireworks once they are done burning. Don't forget to read and follow all of the directions carefully.
“Someone will read a roman candle label and then you have an artillery shell label. Those are two different types of fireworks so you have to read the label of each package of fireworks that you are going to be using because they are different” said Toney.
Another reminder: fireworks that leave the ground are illegal in North Carolina.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.