Family company aims for history with largest fireworks show ever for America's 250th birthday

Washington D.C. is set to host a fireworks display of unprecedented scale on Saturday, July 4th, as part of the "Salute to America 250 Celebration & Fireworks." The event aims to set a new world record with 850,000 individual fireworks illuminating the night sky for 40 minutes.

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I mean, it is the biggest show that we've done.

Pyrotecnico, a company with five generations of family expertise in pyrotechnics, is behind the ambitious display. Their background includes work on Super Bowls and major musical acts. Rocco Vitale, president of Pyrotecnico, described it as the biggest show his company has ever produced, recalling his own early memories of Fourth of July fireworks.

The planning for this year's event began in January, with extensive use of computer simulations to design the show. The actual launch will be managed from eight barges positioned on the Potomac River. Each firing location is equipped with a GPS-enabled communication device, ensuring precise timing once the show sequence is programmed.

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My earliest memories of fireworks displays and doing the Fourth of July was here.

President Trump is scheduled to speak at 9:45 p.m. Eastern Time, with the record-breaking fireworks display commencing at 10:45 p.m. The celebration is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of attendees to the National Mall. CBS will broadcast a primetime special, "The Great American Block Party 250," hosted by Tony Dokoupil and Nischelle Turner, featuring musical performances and coverage of the historic fireworks.

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Each firing location has a communication device, and its all set on GPS. And once the time of the show is put into the system, it goes at that time.