The 2014 edition of the Marblehead Fireworks ran into a major obstacle as a hurricane formed and arrived on Friday, July 4. With a rain date of Saturday, July 5th, it seemed the show would go on. Unfortunately, the hurricane left rough seas in its wake and the barge operator called off the show owing to dangerous conditions in transporting the fireworks.
As disappointed as I was not to be able to capture the fireworks this year (I had a good spot planned out), I decided to head out and focus my efforts on the unique Marblehead tradition of the harbor illumination. I figured that the causeway would offer the best vantage points in addition to being a good spot to capture the sunset. The harbor illumination was indeed beautiful but what happened next even better.
After the flares were lit, a man at Riverhead Beach began firing off fireworks of his own. Paul (whom I introduced myself to afterwards; last name withheld just in case) began shooting fireworks over the water in the most perfect spot given my vantage point on the causeway. I had always hoped to capture fireworks firing off from the ground and arcing in the sky but, given the location of the Marblehead fireworks firing off a barge, this seemed an impossibility…until tonight.
The small but vocal crowd that had gathered at the causeway cheered every flare that went up and Paul added an emphatic cannon fire between volleys.
In the end, this small display would become one of my favorite fireworks shows in Marblehead. Thank you Paul for being the ‘man who saved the Fourth of July’ this year.