Fireworks are special. 

For most of the year, they can’t be bought or sold. Most of the year they can’t be set off in most places in Picayune without a special permit. But twice a year, on our country’s birthday and at the dawn of the new year, all of that changes. Twice a year, it is legal to shoot fireworks in the city limits of Picayune and it’s generally acceptable to buy and sell the holiday amusements. 

After Thanksgiving, the white tents pop up along the highways. The tents are surrounded by signs featuring explosions or the iconic snarling face of a fierce black cat and, usually, around back of the tents one might find a car parked around back, and maybe an RV.  

The tents are big business—and they’re a big responsibility.

Ryan Johnson helps his family run a Crazy Carl’s Fireworks tent just off Highway 11, next to a barbershop. Johnson said someone has to sleep on the premises to prevent theft, but also to protect the merchandise. 

“You’ve got to keep your eyes on it 24/7,” he said.

Monday morning, Johnson had to straighten up a wall of the tent that had blown over from the morning’s storm. Although the stand was open for business, he had to keep the flaps shut, to keep out the moisture as best as he could. Johnson doesn’t worry only about water. Inside the small tent, he also has two fire extinguishers. 

The tent, with a thin sheet of plastic, is the only thing between the elements—and would-be bad guys—and the fireworks.

“There’s about $40-$50,000 of merchandise sitting here,” he said. “People can come in under the tent.”

Although July 4 is the bigger holiday for fireworks—the American Pyrotechnic Association reports an excess of $660 million in firework sales per year over the Fourth of July—New Years can bring brisk sales, too.

Johnson said his family will often have only a single table left of merchandise when it’s all over. 

“It probably won’t be a whole table,” he said.

Johnson said it’s no secret why fireworks have such a hold on the holidays.

“It’s real good entertainment for the family,” he said. 

It brings his family together, too.

Johnson works offshore, and he said during the holiday lull, the stand is an easy way to make a few extra bucks. Johnson said his family will buy the fireworks from Crazy Carl’s warehouse and then spend the days leading up to Independence Day and New Year’s Day camped out, selling to whomever drives up.

“The only hard part is, and it’s not even a hard part, is just time-consuming, but it’s putting up the tables and making it look right,” he said. 

Other than that, Johnson tries to match customers with their favorite fireworks. He said local favorites are bottle rockets, artillery shells and Crazy Crawfish. 

“They shoot sparks and they crackle and pop for about two minutes,” he said of the crawfish. “I like them, and I recommend them. They’re worth the money.”