Story Update: Spectacular Melissa & Doug & Westport PAL Fireworks
Read WestportLocal’s interview of Grucci Fireworks CEO Phil Grucci of America’s First Family Of Fireworks here and learn how they have been providing exceptional pyrotechnic programs to Westport for 23 years.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Westporters have celebrated the Independence Day holiday each year at Compo Beach where they have enjoyed spectacular fireworks displays with the beautiful backdrop of Long Island sound. What they may not be aware of is that these always thrilling shows originated just across the sound in Bellport, Long Island.
Fireworks by Grucci, a sixth-generation family enterprise that began in Italy in 1850, has been providing Westport audiences state of the art pyrotechnics for 23 years straight, with the exception of 2020 due to COVID. Westport is lucky to have had this long term relationship with Grucci Fireworks which has been dubbed "America’s First Family of Fireworks".
Phil Grucci, CEO and Creative Director of the company that has been certified to hold 14 Guinness World Records, was gracious enough to grant Westport Local a 30-minute interview where he discussed the details of the Compo Beach and other shows, sharing fascinating facts about this innovative company. A 23 year run is impressive and is one of many long term relationships the Grucci family has built over their 176 year history, and Mr. Grucci told us he cherishes their relationship with Westport, now in its third decade saying, he was “honored” to have been their choice year after year.
Always a thrilling show, this year’s July 2nd, 2026 spectacular was bigger than ever! Longtime sponsors Melissa & Doug Bernstein and Westport PAL the expanded the show to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the signing of the Declaration Of Independence. Doug Bernstein told WestportLocalPress the display would run about five or six minutes longer than most previous years and the longer show clearly delighted the thousands who attended.
Grucci, aware of the significance of the Nation’s 250 year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration Of Independence, has created several new effects for their 2026 shows worldwide, including a few specifically for our Westport show. They created an effect producing the PAL logo, one of the sponsors, and spelled out the letters USA in one burst, a complicated technical accomplishment which required a 6” shell to produce. They also created the “golden willows” effect, which appears to be a slow, continuously flowing shower of gold.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Their team knew that they needed a home run for this year’s programs for their loyal customers, including Westport, and this year, they performed 65 shows, including 15 rooftop performances in Las Vegas. The plan to accomplish that goal was in part to deploy a “double finale,” which is termed their “Monte Carlo Finale” as this was first done there by Grucci at an international competition for which they won a gold medal in large part for that “double finale” in their first international performance. They then became know as America’s First Family of Fireworks.
What appeared to be a thirty second finale, was followed by a pause giving the impression that the show ended, but then surprising the audience with a second 90 second finale. This program extended the usual run time from of about twenty-two minutes to more than twenty-five and one-half minutes.
Fireworks lovers are impressed by what they see happening in the sky but usually don’t think much about all the creativity and hard work that provides the stunning visuals they enjoy at a Grucci Fireworks show. It takes two and one-half days to set up the Westport show, with a six person pyrotechnic team headed by ten-year Grucci veteran Chief Pyrotechnician Mike Wassemer, including loading up the barge with equipment, testing on the day of show, and another day to strike the set-up.
They produce many of the designs and products here in the US and have recently been taking note incorporating Japanese designs which create the illusion of a spinning “disco ball”, a highly technical feat which causes burning particles to change color giving the appearance that the ball is spinning. Many of their products are created in their upstate NY facility, however they also import some of their high-end products from Spain and Italy from the port city of Bari, on the Adriatic where the Grucci family has roots dating back to 1850. They source only the finest products internationally for use in their many epic performances.
The design of the Grucci show incorporates a variation of intense bursts with a more subtle display to effect the audience emotions. The large shells used for the dramatic, gigantic bursts is an 8” in diameter shell which is fired 700-800 feet into the sky and will create an 800 to 900 foot in diameter effect.
Their most epic product ever was developed recently: a aerial shell which weighs 3500 pounds, is 66” in diameter and is fired from a mortar that is 20 feet high, with steel walls that are more than 2 inches thick, which will be fired at midnight on New Year’s Eve in the United Arab Emirates. That shell has been phased tested and will receive a final test possibly later this summer. Phil described it as “the most nerve-wracking single button you’ll ever push in your life” as he laughed.
A key member of the team on show day is the show producer who operates in the “control room” which Mr. Grucci described as a mini-NASA who sets everything into motion from the arming of the systems to the actual launching.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Always seeking to maintain their standing at the pinnacle of the competitive world of pyrotechnic entertainment and staying on the cutting edge of technical achievement, Grucci began using drones a few years back and set the first certified world record for deploying 220 drones in a show. They now have made a large investment in their drone fleet now numbering more than 500 UAV’s. They can even deploy the fleet to create a QR code of the organization that is sponsoring the event. They have now adapted their drone capability to lift pyrotechnics for use in their programs and can trigger them without damaging the drone.
We were fortunate enough to enjoy one of their larger performances a few years back for the New London Sailfest, which was a truly spectacular 3-barge program on the Thames River. We saw the Grucci caravan of 4 Black Suburbans resembling a presidential motorcade arrive, each bearing the license plates, Grucci 1, Grucci 2, etc. Phil joked that it was sometimes for show logistics than it was to move the entire extensive Grucci family!
A visit to Grucci.com is a must see for any lover of spectacular fireworks, especially their Portfolio pages where you can see incredible shows for both pyrotechnic, drone and pyrodrone performances
Above, Phil Grucci at the controls of a recent program in the United Arab Emirates. (photo courtesy of Grucci Fireworks)
Long before the evening’s spectacular display, there was barely a patch of sand to plunk down your beach chair.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The weekend’s heatwave continued and Westporters found respite in the water, with temperatures around 70º.
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Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Fireworks by Gucci, America's first family of pyrotechnics and current holders of the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Fireworks Display" ever recorded gave Compo Beach the kind of thrilling show we have come to expect every July. They know how to light up the night sky, having done so worldwide for more than 150 years and there were reportedly new effects which debuted this year at the Compo Beach display.
As the sun begins to set the twinkling lights on the Melissa & Doug logo begin to become visible on the barge from which the show is launched.
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As they have for several years the family and friends of Andy Levi stake out their favorite spot near the cannons to celebrate the holiday and enjoy the show.
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The wonderful Compo Beach lifeguards were on scene and completed their shift in time to enjoy the show.
Generally, there was no shortage of excitement and enthusiasm… Generally, lol!
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And there was no shortage of the red, white and blue.
There was plenty of the flags and flag decor to be found throughout the day. This group of teens proudly wore their 4th of July red, white and blue leis for the event.
All eyes turned skyward for more than 35 minutes to enjoy the dazzling array of pyrotechnics that soared above Long Island Sound.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
One group remembered to ad Old Glory to their seating arrangement.
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Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Prior to the big show Compo lifeguards were all smiles with the highlight of their shift just ahead.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.