BRAINERD — Pyrotechnics will be on display at Brainerd International Raceway this summer as members of the Pyrotechnic Guild International host a convention. The gathering is planned Aug. 3-9, which will bring hundreds of people from across the country to the Brainerd lakes area for the convention and is expected to draw thousands for the public fireworks displays.
On Aug. 4, Aug. 7 and Aug.
9, the gates will open for public display nights at the convention. Gates will open at 5 p.m.
with the fireworks show starting about 10 p.m. Kristi Copham, BIR owner, said she wanted to get the word out early so neighbors would know the event was coming, as well as the community and area businesses.
The public demonstrations are expected to draw thousands to the area. Copham said the event, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, last year drew 7,500 people to the public display nights for each of the three days. “And they had to turn people away because they didn't have any more space,” Copham said.
ADVERTISEMENT No one will be able to camp at BIR for the event so Copham said they’ll be going to local hotels and businesses. Some participants will be coming from as far away as Malta. Connie Widmann, Pyrotechnic Guild International chair of public relations, said the all-volunteer organization comes together for a week to teach, learn and display with a heavy emphasis on safety.
What they create, Widmann said, is likely something area residents have never seen before. “For people who go to the PG.
