Where were the fireworks? (Dallas, Garland: neighborhood, buy, live)

[globe9]

Spent my first Christmas and New Year's Holidays in Dallas this year and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed them...especially the snow on Christmas. Don't see that too often in New Orleans

I was wondering about something though...the fireworks. In New Orleans, on New Year's Eve, when one is driving around(home from work, to a party, to dinner etc) we'd see colorful fireworks in the sky almost constantly from neighborhood kids, families, parties etc. This could be observed basically from sun down until the wee hours of the morning with the most going off between 11:30pm and midnight for obvious reasons.

Driving around on New Year's Eve we did not notice any of this. It was actually quite strange for us to be driving around(from Richardson to a party in Garland, then another party in Garland, a party in Sachse, and then back to Richarson) and not see one single firework. There were no fireworks at the parties we went too either.

I know the big thing downtown has fireworks, just as the New Year's Eve party in the French Quarter does, but that doesn't stop individuals from shooting off their own fireworks. Fireworks are illegal in New Orleans and many of the surrounding parishes, but it's not strictly enforced. Basically if someone calls to complain, the police will come out and put a stop to it.

Is this the reason for no fireworks here? Is it illegal and it's strictly enforced? I know someone at the party mentioned the danger b/c of the drought, but I had to wonder about that as everything was wet New Year's Eve

Just curious.

[TheOverdog]

I saw a few. I don't really think of New Years as a fireworks-type holiday, so they seemed sort of out of place.

[ggolf]

I believe it's illegal in most if not all of DFW for private citizens. Pros only. Maybe this is not a tradition here. Dallas is trying to start a Times Square type thing in Victory Plaza, which looked pretty fun.

[txtoal]

There were plenty of fireworks in the more rural areas. The firework stands/stores were packed.

[BigDGeek]

Setting off fireworks in Dallas and most suburbs is illegal. That doesn't stop a lot of people from doing it, but they try to be inconspicuous and opt for ones that make noise rather than ones that are flashy. My neighbors were setting them off like crazy on NYE. Someone less tolerant might have called the cops, but it had rained a TON that day so I wasn't worried about anyone starting a fire; and if someone's kids blow their fingers off that's their parents' problem, not mine.

If you want a good fireworks show next year, head downtown...or do one of your own out in the country. There are tons of stands in Parker County.

[globe9]

Must not be a tradition here like someone said and apparently illegal here is more severe than illegal in La.

Not a biggie, just wondered about it. People in Nola have to give their dogs sedatives on NYE. The hosts of my standing invitation party in Nola spend anywhere from $2-3k every year on fireworks. This is quite normal there too.

I think i'll pass on downtown. Not big on large crowds. We'll just be better prepared next year and buy the fireworks ourselves.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by globe9

Must not be a tradition here like someone said and apparently illegal here is more severe than illegal in La.

Not a biggie, just wondered about it. People in Nola have to give their dogs sedatives on NYE. The hosts of my standing invitation party in Nola spend anywhere from $2-3k every year on fireworks. This is quite normal there too.

I think i'll pass on downtown. Not big on large crowds. We'll just be better prepared next year and buy the fireworks ourselves.

I lived in England for a while and around November they had some celebration called Guy Fawkes Day and the weeks around that day were punctuated with the neighbors setting off fireworks at all hours of the night; it got really old really fast.

[smuboy86]

Originally Posted by globe9

Must not be a tradition here like someone said and apparently illegal here is more severe than illegal in La.

Not a biggie, just wondered about it. People in Nola have to give their dogs sedatives on NYE. The hosts of my standing invitation party in Nola spend anywhere from $2-3k every year on fireworks. This is quite normal there too.

I think i'll pass on downtown. Not big on large crowds. We'll just be better prepared next year and buy the fireworks ourselves.

This is a terrible idea, I imagine if you are in Dallas proper, or in any of the suburbs, police will be dispatched to find you and fine you. All those northern suburbs would love to make an example out of somebody.

[DitsyD]

Because of the drought, Collin and several other counties have a burn ban, which means that any rocket or fireworks on a stick could not even be sold at the fire works stands in the county. If you can't buy them, makes it hard to shoot them.

[BigDGeek]

I think he means to go out into the country where it's legal when he says 'plan'. At least that's what I hope he means.