Local fireworks stands profit from Fourth of July celebrations

Aiken County residents celebrated Independence Day with a bang, thanks to area fireworks dealers who saw a booming business Saturday.

Millbrook Fireworks on Whiskey Road stays open year-round, according to Travis Bradley, but had its biggest day of the season Friday.

"Business has been good - almost too good sometimes," Bradley said. "Most of our customers like to pick out their own fireworks instead of buying packs. We get a lot of repeat business, people who come back year after year, because they know we emphasize not so much quantity as quality."

Millbrook Fireworks shopper Pat Riley agreed.

"We've been coming here at least six or seven years. We're getting a variety pack, some artillery shells, fountains, rockets and snappers. It's a very good place with a very good variety, and you can't beat the price. It's the Fourth of July, and this is just how we celebrate Independence Day."

Further out Whiskey Road, Wacky Wayne's of Aiken opened its temporary business in mid-June and will remain open through the weekend as long as business supports it, according to store manager Chet Phillips. Wacky Wayne's Fireworks has only one year-round location in North Augusta.

"We've been doing OK. We weren't sure how it was going to be with the economy like it is, but it seems like people still want to celebrate the birth of America. Today is what will make or break it. We're just happy to be part of the celebration," Phillips said.

South Aiken Church of God hosted a fireworks stand in its parking lot as a fundraiser for the Royal Rangers boys' program. The stand opened on June 25 and closed after the last customer was served Saturday night. The church has done the fireworks fundraiser for five years, according to volunteers Michael and Tiffany Goodwin.

"It's been very successful for us," said Tiffany. "The last couple of days have been very busy, but we anticipate most of our business will be today (Saturday). We have a lot of drive-bys, but we also get a lot of people who come back year after year. We're able to keep the prices low because it's all volunteer and there's hardly any overhead."

Southside Free Will Baptist Church on East Pine Log Road got into the fireworks fundraising business for the first time this year, according to youth pastor Randy Valandingham, who was among the volunteers manning the fireworks stand Saturday. It has been such a hit the church plans to reopen the stand at New Year's, Valandingham said.

"This is a fundraiser for our youth camp. Our goal was to be able to send 17 of our kids to camp for free, and we're going to be able to do that," he said. "TNT Fireworks did a great job helping us get set up and getting us the fireworks. Business has been good - Friday was especially good. I think a lot of people are buying here because they want to help the kids go to camp; we've had a lot of word of mouth."

Valandingham said the church's fireworks stand will stay open all day today before closing for the season.

Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.