COEUR d’ALENE — Hagadone Marine Group President Craig Brosenne has been involved in the yearly fireworks show over Lake Coeur d’Alene for 28 years.

He’s made it a tradition of sorts to sign his name on one of the larger shells, which he did Thursday as he and the crew with Pyro Spectaculars carefully arranged hundreds of shells in varying sizes on barges at Murphy Marina.

Tonight’s fireworks show will feature around 5,000 effects and dazzle onlookers along the lake for about 20 minutes.

Brosenne is promising an even more spectacular show than previous years — a lot to live up to, since last year’s show was declared to be the largest ever.

“I guarantee this will be the biggest show we’ve ever done,” Brosenne said.

The shells will be launched from a barge towed 1,000 feet from the southwest corner of The Coeur d’Alene Resort. Patrol boats will ensure people keep a minimum 1,000 feet from the barge.

Idaho Central Credit Union is once again the presenting sponsor. The Resort, Hagadone Marine Group, the Coeur d’Alene Press and Murphy Marine also made this year’s show possible, Brosenne said.

"Fireworks have always been a staple for the Hagadone family," Brosenne added.

Dalton Vaughan with Pyro Spectaculars is also returning as the lead pyrotechnician, a role he’s performed since 2018.  

For Vaughan, the shows never get old.  

“It’s just fun to do,” Vaughan said. 

Tonight’s show will begin between 9:30 and 10 p.m.

About 5,000 shells were loaded onto barges Thursday ahead of the Fourth of July fireworks show over Lake Coeur d'Alene.