Fireworks team lights up Endicott skies

The firework display over Endicott Saturday night welcomed Santa Claus to town for the Endicott holiday celebrations. The fireworks were shot in the lot across the street from the Endicott Food Center by Jon Langston and Tony Anderson with the assistance of David Nelson, Joseph Nelson and Dave Wingo.

Every Fourth of July and Christmas-time, fireworks light up the night sky in Endicott, and it is largely thanks to the contributions of two Endicott residents.

Tony Anderson, who pays for the cost of the fireworks at his own expense, and Jon Langston, who contributes to the cost, have been a part of several firework shows in Endicott, and the brothers-in-law say the fireworks are fun for them.

“We really like it,” said Langston. “It is really nice to do the ones in Endicott because we can get close to the crowd.”

Anderson said he and Langston, as well as “a few other guys” front the cost and hope for enough donations to cover the total cost.

“Jon and I do most of it,” he said. “That is pretty much how it happens. We pay for it all and hope that the donations cover, and sometimes they do not.”

Langston, a native of southern Utah, attended school at the Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and it was there, he said, that he got into fireworks.

“In 2001, I was going to school at Utah State, and there is a fireworks manufacturing plant there,” he said. “I happened to get a job there. That is where I learned how to make fireworks and shoot them off.”

Langston said he had the opportunity there to shoot several shows for local events, and he even had the opportunity to be a part of some pretty big shows. Those big shows were the ushering in of the 2002 new year, as well as the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

“It was really neat to work on the Olympics one because it was such a large organized event,” he said.

Langston moved with his wife, Tia, to a farm house near Endicott in February 2012. He has been a part of every Fourth of July and Christmas fireworks display in Endicott since 2010.

“Every time we traveled up here, it would be for Christmas or the Fourth of July,” he said, “and I just got involved in the show.”

Langston still builds his own fireworks, but those are not part of the shows in Endicott.

“It is actually illegal to build your own fireworks and shoot them in a public display,” he said.

For the displays in Endicott, they use purchased fireworks.

“No homemade fireworks,” said Langston. “I am just a part of Tony's crew.”

Anderson said he has been a part of the show in Endicott for “at least 15 years.

“He loves it,” Nancy Anderson, his wife, said. “It is his hobby.”

Anderson said that his passion for fireworks began as a kid.

“Every kid loves fireworks,” he said.

He became involved in the show in Endicott while working with the fire department, which put on the show each year. After that, Endicott Parks and Recreation took the show over, and he was also a part of that, so his involvement continued.

Nancy said that though her husband has been a part of the show for about 15 years, it really started to “get big” about six years ago.

“We had a resident move into Endicott who happened to be a pyrotech,” said Nancy. “When Dave Wingo moved here, that is when it got big.”

Anderson said he has traveled with Wingo to Seattle and Olympia for shows, which are done through a company based in California, called Pyrospectacular.

“I still do shows for the company, too,” said Anderson.

Anderson said he has done shows for the Tri-City Dust Devils and Tacoma Rainers. He said he is essentially “on call” for the company, but he also likes to stick near home, especially on the Fourth.

“We have kind of our own shows that we do, too,” said Anderson. “Dave does the one in Pullman on the Fourth, and we did the Winterfest in Colfax last week.”

Anderson said he loves being able to provide shows for his community and nearby communities.

“It is entertaining; it is always fun when you put on a good show and people talk about it,” he said.

He added that he has sometimes made fireworks with Langston, but that is mostly “Jon's thing.” He said they have thought about getting licensed to be able to include those fireworks in the show, but it “is kind of expensive.”

“It is pretty fun,” he said. “Maybe one of these days.”

Anderson and Langston both said they like how close the crowds in Endicott can get to the fireworks display, with the fireworks being classified as class C.

“It is not quite as dangerous as class B,” Anderson said.

Anderson said they hope to be able to continue to put on shows in Endicott for years to come.

“It is just fun,” he said. “I do not really have any other hobbies. I just like to blow stuff up, I guess.”