Submitted Photo Minot Fireworks Association members, left to right, are Tom Mikkelson, Jeremiah Agnes, Briana Eman, Derek Miller, Cory Long and Jessica Miller.

The Minot Fireworks Association is getting ready for its annual fireworks display at the fairgrounds on July 4. A lot of planning goes into this show behind the scenes, including fundraising and long hours building the fireworks.

In a recent fundraiser, the organization sold hot dogs, brats, chips and drinks at the main Marketplace Foods parking lot on May 17. Members of Minot Fireworks helped by grilling hot dogs and explaining different aspects of the fireworks to community members.

“Minot Fireworks Association was started by Adam Dyess and Derek Miller so that we could keep a fireworks display going in the Minot community,” said member Cory Long. “Our organization is very proud to build our display only with community-raised funds and donations.”

Each year the members of the organization and volunteers begin to build the fireworks a few months in advance, putting in as many as 1,000 hours to build the 30 minute display for the Fourth of July.

“Mum Pyro will harvest the wood, saw it down and essentially create gunpowder. From there they add the necessary chemicals to add color to the fireworks,” Long said. “This powder is then put into shells, which are then placed into the tubes to be shot off.”

This special show is choreographed each year by Miller and his daughter, Haylee Miller. They work together with Mum Pyro to create a show coordinated to music.

“They work together and always put on a great show by choosing the right music for the show each year,” Long said. “We are looking forward to putting on another awesome show this year and couldn’t do it without the support of the community.”