Best Victoria Day Fireworks

We've been looking forward to this weekend for so long... the first long weekend which seems to kick off the summer season.

The May long weekend has long been associated with opening up the cottage, camping, gardening, bbq'ing and enjoying spending time with the people you love to hang out with.    Days prior to the long weekend are usually spent "praying" for nice weather.

I love the long weekend as it is a goal for me to get my gardens (front, back & side!!) edged, mulched and annuals spread around to give summer long impact between the spurts of bloom between the perennials.

It is also a time when people look forward to FIREWORKS!

There are many variety stores, temporary mobile trailer stores and sections of retail stores that sell fireworks for you to set off (safely) on your own property (please note recommendations at the end of this post).

For the Victoria Day 2012 long weekend, you will only find Public Fireworks on Sunday May 20th at the Dundas Driving Park, located on Cross Street in Dundas.     These are the official City of Hamilton Victoria Day Fireworks and Burlington does not have Public Fireworks this weekend.     The Fireworks in Dundas are presented by the Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club in partnership with the City of Hamilton.    Volunteers will be on hand to collect cash donations to help fund Rotary Community Projects.     PLEASE NOTE THAT PERSONAL FIREWORKS AND & SPARKLERS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE PARK.

Fireworks generally are set off when the sun goes down (sometime around 9-915pm.    As these are the only fireworks in the area, best get there early so you are not disappointed.

Guidelines for Setting off Fireworks:

• Family fireworks may be set off only on Victoria Day, Canada Day and the two days immediately preceding or following these two holidays.
• No child shall set off family fireworks other than a sparkler where the child is under direct supervision of an adult at all times.
• No person shall set off family fireworks on any land of which he or she is not the owner without first obtaining written permission of the owner.   Fireworks shall not be discharged over roadways.
• Appoint one person to be in charge who knows about the hazards of fireworks.   Carefully read and follow the label directions including requirements for safe distances to spectators.
• Always keep a pail of water or a water hose nearby.
• Firmly set the fireworks at least 1/2 its length in a pail of sand or dirt, angled slightly away from spectators, checking wind direction and speed.
• Never lean over a firework when lighting it.   Never re-light a "dud" firework.
• Supervise the use of sparklers with children.    They burn extremely hot and can ignite clothing and cause severe burns.   As the sparkler wire remains hot for some minutes after burnout, immediately soak in water.