News : Boomtown lights up the sky, shakes the ground and makes you smile

The Boomtown fireworks show drew thousands to this year's show. With cars lining the streets, filling the fairgrounds and every parking lot in the area, it was obvious that people were ready to see the show. Last year's show was canceled like most other events because of COVID and it was obvious from the crowd this year, that people missed the show.

Boomtown, one of the largest fireworks displays that you might ever see, was indeed back in full force for 2021. The event highlights shells built by Iowa Pyrotechnic Association members. The shells range in size and were displayed along with the name of the person who created the shell and a brief description of how the shell should perform. Emceeing the show was Vinton's own Tom Pingenot and announcing each display was Janell Genardo of Illinois. Genardo's 12 year old twin daughters, Ava and Allison Sleigher, used humor in naming their shells. One was called, "I'll beat my sister" and the other was called, "No, you didn't beat me!"

There were several categories of competition for builders to compete in. Some of the shells were as large as 16" and weighed in at over 100 pounds. Shells of this size are remotely fired in case of a misfire. Part of the show includes the people that you don't see on the grounds, the safety personnel. One of the 16" shells didn't perform as expected. It gave a great presentation, but it just didn't make it off the ground.

The trainwreck known as 2020 had its very own salute at this year's Boomtown fireworks display. The "trainwreck" display was in memory of those we lost and in recognition of 2020. The original pyrotechnic interpretation of a trainwreck idea came about as a way of imitating a State Fair event that used to happen from as early as 1896 and other times through the years until 1932. The Iowa State Fair would run two locomotives head-on into each other at about 50 miles per hour. Watch the 1932 display here. The Iowa Pyrotechnics Association has some of the best video of the night events on their Facebook page. Boomtown re-enacted the train wreck with smoke, fire, and a 'collision' of fireworks. The display was set up along the backstretch of the Benton County Speedway. Complete with the sounds that you would expect to hear at a train station, it made you feel like real trains were indeed on the premises.

Along with the highlighted trainwreck, the earth-shaking 50-gallon explosions were the most impressive and drew the most applause from the crowds each time Large enough to definitely bring the heat, they also shook anything and everything in town.

Other displays were part of the show. In the junior category, featuring the work of ages 8-18 year old builders, a medley of songs played as various fireworks shot off. Ending with the song, I Can Only Imagine, the crowd cheered as the set concluded. To view this along with another set, click here and here.

Pictures and video are fine, but you really can't capture the sight and sounds of a firework display, you really have to be there! There are a few hundred pictures that you can view in the album here.

Below is a list of all of the shells that were built for the show.

Boomtown - IPA Exhibition Shells:
3in Ball Shells:Tim Canny - Blue and RedGavin Gallaway - Green StrobeJocelyn Matthews - Twilight Shell, Purple and AquaJocelyn Matthews - Christmas Shell, Red and Green StarsCharlie Janczak (1st time builder) - Purple and Blue StarsTim Canny - Red and Yellow Stars with a Bottom ShotTim Canny - Purple Stars with a Bottom Shot
4in Ball Shells: Tim Canny - Red to Yellow with Purple BeesTim Canny - Pink Stars with CometsTim Canny - Orange with Green Strobe, with Serpents to ReportsTim Canny - Purple and Gold with SalutesJenell Genardo - Green Strobe with White CrackleJenell Genardo - Lemon Yellow with Whistle to CrackleAriana Hull - 1/2 Green and 1/2 Purple StarsGavin Gallaway - Red and Blue with 2 "Fish"Stephanie Rooks (1st time builder) - Turquoise Outer with Pink Inner StarsJohn Kay - Twitterpated XJohn Carson - Red with Green RingJohn Carson - XQ37 Magenta and Green StarsBrett Ulrich - "Come On Give Me Some" ShellSarah Hartness - "Yea Baby" SurpriseAva Sleigher - "Boomshakalaka"Gary Markley - Blue Stars with a Red RingJohn Widmer - "Tickle Me Surprise"Jessica Johnson - "Boom" ShellCole Travis - "Dad I built it" ShellJames Matthews II, 1st Time Shell Builder - "The Kitchen Sink"Ken Rothman - "Come and Get Me"Jocelyn Matthews - Blue Outer, Magenta Inner with BeesLuke Beschta - "THE Shell"Ava Sleigher - "Girl Power"Ethan Gallaway, 1st Time Shell Builder - "Awesome Sauce"John Knensva - "Whoa Mama"Allison Sleigher - "I'll beat my sister shell, HAHA!"Ava Sleigher - "No, My Sister Didn't Beat Me Shell. HA!"Lambo Janzak, 1st Time Shell Builder - Aqua Outer Petal with Chartreuse Inner PetalScott Anderson - Double AquaTim Canny - Double Petal Shell, Outer - Red and Blue Stars, Inner - White Stars with Blue BeesJohn Rooks, 1st Time Shell Builder - Red, White and Blue Stars with Red BeesSteve Bexley, 1st Time Shell Builder - Aqua, Orange and White Bees with a SaluteJake Matthews - "A BLUE STAR"Tim Canny - Green Strobe with Green & Glitter Stars with a Bottom Shot
Tim Canny - Red Stars with Salutes and a Bottom ShotTim Canny - Pink & Blue Glitter with Blue & Glitter Bees and a Bottom Shot
5in Ball Shells:Karsyn Nichol - Gold GlitterMaize Freidoff - Pink StrobeMaize Freidoff - Gold StarsTim Canny - Green and Gold Stars with Glitter BeesTim Canny - Gold to Orange; Gold to Purple with Yellow StarsTim Canny - Aqua Stars with Orange BeesTim Canny - Orange Stars with Serpents to ReportsTim Canny - Green Stars with Red BeesTim Canny - Blue Outer Stars with Inter Red BeesJenell Genardo - Green with Gold CometsJulie Mashek - Zinc and Orange StrobeRandall Livingston - Comet to ReportsMatthew Romey - Blue TwitterpatedTim Canny - Indy Blue with Orange Bees and a Bottom ShotTim Canny - Orange to Green Serpents to Reports with Glitter Bees and a Bottom Shot
6 in Ball Shells:Aaron Hull - Color Inserts with Blue & Orange Strobe and CrackleKarsyn Nichol - Tigertail with Purple PistilKarsyn Nichol - Tigertail with Pink Strobe PistilMaize Freidoff - The Kitchen Sink (Multi-Colored)Maize Freidoff - Purple with White GlitterJoyce Anderson - Red Mag with GlitterJoyce Anderson - Tigertail with Pink StrobeNoah Hull - Diadem Red to Yellow Outer with Mystic CenterJenell Genardo - Purple with Green StarsAaron Hull - Willow Glitter to Blue with Gold GlitterDarrin Freese - A Ghost ShellMatthew Romey - Willow Diadem to Blue with Red CrossettesJenell Genardo - Red Strobe with Firefly and Lime GreenRandall Livingston - Charcoal CrossettesRandall Livingston - Silver SerpentsTim Canny - Red to Blue Stars with Glitter Comets with a Rising EffectTim Canny - Double Petal; Outer - Purple Stars with Inner - Gold StarsTim Canny - Blue & Pink Stars with Glitter BeesTim Canny - Green Stars with Red Bees
7 in Ball Shells:Eli Hull - Lilac Blue & Pink to Yellow with Aqua StrobeDan Marovets - Crossettes Compartment Shell with RingRich Hull, 1st Time Shell Builder - Willow Flitter to Blue, Kamuro to Red Petal with White StrobeJulie Mashik - "Fireball" 8in Ball Shell:Kim Lockard - Glitter to Purple with Green Inner PetalScott Anderson - Yellow MagScott Anderson - Green to WillowScott Anderson - LampblackScott Anderson - Silver with Green MagScott Anderson - AquaKim Lockard - Tiger Tail to Red Glitter Inner PetalEmory Meyer - Tiger Tail to Green, Blue Inner PetalAaron Hull - Blue to Gold Glitter with Lampblack Ring, Yellow Sprite with GreenDarrin Freese - Gold to Blue Inner Petal
10in Ball Shell:Kim Lockard - Blonde Tie to Glitter to Red Inner PistilKim Lockard - Blonde Tie to Purple, Red to Green Inner Green PistilScott Anderson - 1/2 Orange 1/2 Aqua StarsScott Anderson - "Chateau Monkey"
16in Ball Shell:Scott Anderson - BlueScott Anderson - Gold Broquet
MINES:Tim Canny - Glitter Pink and Blue StarsTim Canny - Multi Colored
Memorial Shells:Chuck Yedlick, In honor of his Brother Edwin Yedlik - 10in Gold SpiderDarrin Freese, In Honor of his Father, Don Freese - "This one's for you, Dad"Aaron Hull - In honor of Chris Foster, whose Children are members of the IPA - Lampblack and Aqua with Crossettes