Why UK Fireworks Fans Should Make the Pilgrimage to PGI 2025 in Iowa

If you love fireworks, you’ve probably already seen your fair share of Bonfire Night bangers and New Year sky-splitters. But there’s a whole other level waiting across the pond — and it’s called the Pyrotechnics Guild International Convention.

Every August, thousands of pyromaniacs (the responsible kind) descend on a field in Boone, Iowa, for a week-long festival of fire, fuse and fantasy. PGI is where the world’s most passionate fireworks makers, fans and professionals gather not just to watch fireworks — but to make them, learn about them, shoot them, and celebrate them with the kind of unbridled joy usually reserved for Glastonbury.

And if you're serious about pyrotechnics — or just fancy an unforgettable holiday with a few thousand firework obsessives — then PGI 2025 is the trip you didn’t know you needed.

So, What Exactly Is PGI?

Held this year from 2nd–8th August 2025, the PGI Convention is more than a fireworks show — it's an entire subculture. Founded back in 1969, PGI was set up to promote the safe use, enjoyment and understanding of fireworks. Over five decades later, it’s become the biggest annual gathering of fireworks lovers in the world.

This year’s convention will transform the Central Iowa Expo grounds in Boone into a temporary town devoted entirely to fireworks. There are two ways to attend — as a spectator, or as a fully-fledged member. Your choice depends on just how deep you want to dive.

What Spectators Can Expect

If you're simply looking to enjoy some jaw-dropping displays and soak up the atmosphere, attending as a spectator is a brilliant introduction to PGI. Two public display nights are on offer this year — Sunday 3rd August and Friday 8th August.

Each night features a series of pyro-musicals — fireworks shows meticulously choreographed to music — delivered by some of the best pyrotechnic teams in the world. The Friday display tends to be the biggest of the two, often featuring something exclusive or experimental, though it also draws a larger crowd.

Doors open at 6pm, and the shows typically start around 8pm, running for over an hour. Tickets are available through the PGI website and tend to sell out well in advance — especially for the Friday show — so plan ahead if you want a front-row view.

The Full Monty: Joining PGI as a Member

For those who want the full-fat, behind-the-scenes experience, becoming a member is absolutely worth it. This isn’t just a convention — it’s a pyrotechnic playground.

PGI members get access to the entire week of events, including:

• Hands-on manufacturing sessions where you can learn to build fireworks from scratch

• Expert-led seminars covering everything from shell design to show choreography, and even how blind and visually impaired people experience fireworks

• A sprawling trade show featuring equipment, tools, firing systems, and more consumer fireworks than you’ve ever seen in one place

• Open shooting areas where you can set off your purchases (or your own creations) under the supervision of PGI’s famously friendly safety crew

There’s also a buzzing social scene — members often end up camping on-site, trading stories, tips, and fuses long into the night. And if you’re the competitive type, you can even enter the PGI’s respected fireworks competitions, with categories ranging from handcrafted shells to full-blown display shows.

Membership costs $100 (around £80), with convention fees on top. But if you’re passionate about pyrotechnics, it’s worth every penny — and then some.

Competitions, Collectibles and Creative Sparks

The week isn’t just about explosions in the sky. PGI also celebrates the art, history and culture of fireworks.

There’s a dedicated Collectors’ Corner filled with vintage fireworks memorabilia — from old-school labels to discontinued shells — that’s a dream for pyro nerds and historians alike. There’s also an art show where members exhibit their fireworks-themed artworks, including photography, sculpture, and the much-loved fireworks quilt competition (yes, really).

One of the quirkiest highlights is the PGI auction, where rare pyro gear, books, tools and collectibles go to the highest bidder. It's part flea market, part treasure hunt, and all entirely on brand.

Consumer Fireworks Vending and Nightly Open Shoots

Unlike the UK, where fireworks are mostly fired during November and New Year’s Eve, PGI offers something we just don’t get at home: nightly consumer firework shoots.

Wholesale vendors are on-site all week, selling an incredible array of consumer-grade fireworks. Once you've stocked up, you can stroll over to one of the designated open-shooting zones and light them off immediately — with guidance and support from experienced safety volunteers if needed. It’s as close as you’ll ever get to a licensed adult playground for firework lovers.

Planning Your Trip from the UK

Boone, Iowa isn’t exactly a quick hop from Heathrow, but it’s well worth the miles. The nearest international airport is Des Moines (DSM), about 50 minutes by car from the venue. Flights typically connect via Chicago, Dallas, or Minneapolis.

Accommodation in Boone itself is limited, so many PGI-goers stay in nearby Ames, a university town with plenty of hotels, motels and Airbnbs. Be sure to book early — this is a major event for the region and rooms fill quickly.

You’ll also want to rent a car. Public transport is sparse, and the venue is rural — charmingly so, but definitely car-dependent.

Is It Worth It?

In a word: yes.

Whether you’re a garden display hobbyist or someone who’s always wanted to know how to make a multibreak shell by hand, PGI offers the kind of access, education and inspiration that just doesn’t exist in the UK.

It’s a brilliant excuse for a summer holiday, a chance to meet the international fireworks community, and the perfect way to see what fireworks look like when all the stops are pulled out. You’ll return home with new ideas, a renewed passion, and probably a suitcase full of merch you don’t really have space for — but absolutely need anyway.

PGI 2025 is shaping up to be one of the biggest and best yet. If you're even remotely interested in fireworks, it’s not just worth attending — it should be top of your bucket list.

To learn more, grab your tickets, or sign up for membership, visit the official PGI site at pgi.org or Eventbrite.