Choosing Fireworks: Daytime Displays
Not the most common type of consumer display in the UK but here are your options.
Examples of enquiries for help I’ve had for daytime fireworks include remembrance events (salutes or bangs), fete openings, sports events and so on. Your options are either daytime-specific fireworks – they do exist – or using normal nighttime fireworks anyway.
Daytime-specific fireworks
The principle effects in fireworks intended for daylight use are coloured smokes, streamers and parachutes. Here, shots (usually from a cake or barrage) are launched up and each one then bursts into an effect.
There aren’t a huge number of these fireworks on the market most likely as demand is small and production costs for consumer fireworks have become so high. I’ll update this section when I’ve sourced and fired some of the items currently available.
Ground-based smoke effects
An increasing number of firework retailers are stocking smoke effects. Intended for daytime use, they come in a variety of colours and sizes. Some are lit with a fuse whereas others are started by pulling a ring (such as those shown below)
Nighttime fireworks suitable for daytime use
Technically there is nothing stopping you using any nighttime firework during the day. Be aware though that most of the coloured effects are likely to be lost. Still, for sound effects, any normal nighttime firework can be used. Example sounds that work well include:
Bangs: Salute/airbomb cakes work just as well during the day if you need multiple bangs. Otherwise, with airbombs long since banned in the UK you need to be looking at rockets for single bangs. It’s usually simpler here to approach your local fireworks specialist and enquire what’s available in the salute rocket range. Failing that, look for 1.3G class rockets as these pack a good punch (1.4G rockets often just “pop”).
Crackles: Many cakes and barrages are available that fire crackling comets, these work well in the day.
Whistles: Another effect that’s quite effective in daylight.
Note: Chinese crackers, bangers and airbombs are no longer legal in the UK.
Professional daytime fireworks and SFX
Whilst the range of daylight fireworks in consumer fireworks is very limited, the opposite is true for professional display companies. There’s a huge amount to choose from including aerial shells with colours, ground maroons and even flame and spark effects. Many of these are also close proximity effects and can be fired indoors. So for those with bigger budgets and particularly anyone staging a corporate event, speak to your local professional display company.
Further information
The other Choosing Fireworks sections might also be of help in case your display also falls within the scope of those too.
If you’re a complete beginner and some of the terms used in this page are unclear then head over to the Beginners Start Here! page for a run-through of both fireworks and the extensive guides on my website.
The next step after narrowing down your choice of fireworks is buying them, arguably the most fun part! The Buying Fireworks sections will help you.
Then, it’s time to set up your pyro before firing it. The Setting Up Fireworks and Firing Your Display sections will guide you further.
Finally, if you have any questions or want to chat about fireworks with like-minded people, head over to my Fireworks Forum, the UK’s best online community for fireworks chat. I’d love to hear from you and answer any queries you might have.