Fireworks!!!

I was able to make it back to NH for the recent fourth of July celebrations, a staple of every Independence Day celebration are the fireworks. Sure the big cities bring out all the people like in NYC, Boston, Washington, D.C. but if you're truly looking for a great fireworks display without the crowds just drive around NH for a little bit. See one of New Hampshire's claims to fame is their lacks, even embracing, of the fireworks laws for citizens. You'll find the best personal fireworks displays in the northeast in NH b/c of the availability of high-grade fireworks. Here's a list of the restricted states Consumer Product Safety Comission. Looking on that list you will see that every northeast state aside from Connecticut and Pennsylvania are on the restricted list for consumer fireworks bans. This leaves Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont (the three states surrounding NH) no choice when it comes to buying fireworks to come in NH and purchase their pyrotechnics. Now there are different laws per town so make sure  you frequent the towns that don't have any restrictions, this article in the Seacoast Online has a full list.

The leader in NH fireworks is Atlas PyroVision Productions. They supply all of the fireworks displays for Boston, NYC, Washington D.C. and annually hold a fireworks display in their hometown of Jaffery, NH as part of the Jaffery Festival of Fireworks. This is the 19th-year of the festival which is being held on Aug 16th at the Jaffery Airport in Jaffery, NH (For More Info). I went one year and it is spectacular, the company goes all out with syncing the show to music and it's as big as any major city, plus they usually test out new firworks so you could see things that you've never seen before.

A partial list of 'official' fireworks events can be found here. So there are plenty of ways to see how NH celebrates the art of explosions throughout the year and not just on America's birthday.