The festivities part was dead this year for us. We went to a family picnic and the maga faction seemed awfully quiet. We didn't stay for the aerial display this year, wasn't really an appropriate choice for us celebrating the last free birthday of the republic. I hope we're wrong about that.

I can't say for other places, but around the radio ranch it seems quieter. We aren't allowed fireworks that fly in Oregon so that's not what I'm referring to. Longview/Kelso was going full tilt with the private aerial shows on Friday and the towns around here (allowed aerial shows) had their displays much like any year.

The one big difference around my place this 4th is the distinct lack of small arms fire, tannerite experiments and two liter oxy/acetylene 'firecrackers'. All the other things that go boom around here. Automatic weapons bursts aren't uncommon around the 4th and New Years here. It can get aurally interesting at times.

Perhaps people are hoarding those sorts of things for the attempted maga takeover. Out in the Oregon sticks, contrary to popular opinion about Oregon politics, maga is alive and well.
Until all the leopards come to dinner.

Professional grade fireworks are an art and a science. If you act accordingly, odds are you will be ok. But like anything in life, one oh shit changes everything. I hope you had your hearing protection deployed Ash.