The Western Pyrotechnics Association (WPA) is holding its annual Do It convention at the Hawthorne Racetrack on Bonanza Road this upcoming September 20-25. During this time, fireworks will be shot up into the air every evening from 6pm-10pm on weeknights and 6pm-11pm on Friday and Saturday.

The WPA is an association of fireworks hobbyists, enthusiasts, and professionals who meet twice a year- in early spring in Lake Havasu, Arizona, and in the fall in Hawthorne. The WPA was formed in 1989 by a few fireworks enthusiasts who wanted to form a West Coast organization, made up of a network of close friends that that could share their love of pyrotechnics and hold events that were both educational and entertaining.

Do It is a spin-off of a WPA event that was first held in 1998 in Laughlin, Nevada (then called Pow Wow). The event was geared more towards pyrotechnics hobbyists and while there were not very many participants, the ones who did attend had a lot of fun and the event grew in attendance and popularity the following years. From what started as a handful of people is now in the triple digits.

Do It is a manufacturing event that allows people to build fireworks all day and shoot them off well into the night. There are no seminars or public displays, and limited vendors. B product, BP, and chems are available by pre-order only, and C product is available onsite.

A few of the products that could be pre-ordered include: crackling comet tails, dominators, red falling leaves, smile face with crackling pistils, crossettes, chrysanthemums, peacock grass, medusa, photo flash, and cat face pyrotechnics. All fireworks products must be shot onsite.

Many of the pyrotechnic devices are made onsite by WPA members at the event, with the host hotel a mile away from the shoot site (dry camping is free onsite). The Afterglow nighttime event is in a dirt parking lot with a bonfire and lawn chairs.

Admission into the racetrack is restricted to WPA members only, but the public is invited to view the fireworks from Bonanza Road, the parking lot at the airport, and at other locations west of the racetrack.

The finale of the convention (its member showcase) will take place at 7:30pm on Saturday, September 24. Last year, around 150 people came to Hawthorne for this event, and the WPA expects comparable numbers for this year.