By STEVEN MURREY
Managing Editor
smurrey@cherryroad.com
The annual Elwood 4th of July Celebration, sponsored by the Elwood Optimist Club in conjunction with BurgerHaus Productions, will begin Friday, July 4th at dusk in the Elwood Junior Senior High School/Callaway Park area.
Due to last year’s cancellation, the annual show is already paid for! However, volunteers from the Optimist will circulate the crowd before the show to take donations for next year’s show. Members will be clearly identified for those wishing to donate to the 2026 show.
BurgerHaus Productions, a Frankton-based pyrotechnics company owned by Zach Burger, will again be responsible for setting off the fireworks. The company replaced Melrose Pyrotechnics in presenting the show when Melrose was sold to a national company that specializes in significantly larger shows.
BurgerHaus Productions has put on shows previously at Frankton Heritage Days, the City of Tipton’s Independence Day Celebration, the Magic of Christmas in Elwood fireworks show, and will host several other shows throughout the region during the holiday.
The locally rooted pyrotechnics company has seen significant growth in the past few year, Burger said.
“We’ve got about 40 people total now,” said Burger. “Back in 2020, we were only doing three shows. Now, we’re shooting between 60 and 70 shows a year, all through the fall and winter for different festivals and other special events.”
Last year, inclement weather canceled the Elwood show. Burger said this year’s show is identical to what was planned for last year.
“It’s literally sat in our shipping container in ATF approved storage for the last year,” he continued. “The good thing about that is none of that product had tariffs on it. It’s going to be a great show.”
“We got crucified all over social media last year because we had to postpone shows due to weather,” said Burger. “I think that if people actually knew what it took to put these kind of shows on with the amount of electronics involved now, they wouldn’t give us so much grief when we have to do what’s in the best interest of the safety of the crew, spectators, and to take care of the properties we do these shows on so we can keep coming back.”
“So when we make those tough decisions, we’re not doing it because we don’t want to put on the show, or we want to take their money and run. Elwood’s a prime example, this year it’s not costing them anything because they paid for it last year. There are other companies that would take a deposit and would keep it,” said Burger. “I’m a local person. I grew up in these communities. I don’t do business that way.”
This weekend’s Elwood display, thankfully, has the benefit of a dry forecast, Burger said.
“I have zero thought in my mind of any kind of rescheduling. We’re actually going to be out hitting it heavy on the morning of the third, getting equipment set up, and getting into place so come the morning of July 4, all we have to do is start loading fireworks.”
BurgerHaus productions has hired crew members from as far away as South Bend and Detroit, as well as locally from Hamilton, Tipton, Madison and Howard Counties. Additionally, the company sponsors local organizations and events including Frankton Girls Softball, Frankton Town and County Baseball, Pipe Creek Volunteer Fire Department, as well as a $5,000 donation of fireworks to Frankton’s annual show to show his appreciation for his hometown.
The Elwood Optimist Club relies entirely on donations to fund the fireworks show each year, the bulk of which come in when club members walk the parking lot at the football field during the show. Additionally, donations are collected through the barrel outside of the Elwood Fire Department.
Other area 4th of July Celebrations include:
• Alexandria Community Fireworks: The Alexandria Community Fireworks, presented this year by the Alexandria Community Center, will take place at the Alexandria Monroe Elementary School campus. This is the community center’s first year in charge of the show, which was previously put on by a nonprofit headed up by Amy Bair. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 3 with the annual Freedom Parade downtown. Directly following the parade, there will be food trucks in the AMES and AMHS parking lots, and the Community Band will perform during this time. Fireworks will begin after sunset, which is estimated to be around 10 p.m.
• City of Anderson Independence Parade & Celebration: The evening kicks off on Thursday, July 3 at 7 p.m. with the annual parade at East 9th Street and Central Avenue, followed by a lively celebration featuring a Corey Cox concert, inflatables, kids’ activities, games, prizes, a petting zoo, food trucks, and more. The City of Anderson fireworks display will begin at 10 p.m..
• Summitville Fireworks: Fireworks to begin at dusk on Friday, July 4
