How Pittsburgh Became the ‘Fireworks Capital of the World’
Pittsburgh’s biggest fireworks show of the year starts Thursday at 9:35 p.m., and the company in charge of it all is from Western Pennsylvania. But they’re not the only game in town! City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris explains the birthplace and backstories of Zambelli, Pyrotecnico, and Starfire — three of the nation’s largest fireworks makers — and how they each came to call the Pittsburgh area home.
Learn more about Zambelli, Pyrotecnico, and Starfire, plus Pittsburgh’s Independence Day show and displays all around the region. And special thanks to the Trib archives and Megan’s partner’s intrepid reporting in 2010.
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