Pick a seat, any seat

Fireworks – along with flags, barbecues with various processed meat products, potato- or… Fireworks – along with flags, barbecues with various processed meat products, potato- or macaroni-based salad and the occasional drunken relative – make the Fourth of July a great American holiday. Fireworks seem to be the perfect way to wrap up an Independence Day celebration, even if it’s just a small show in your backyard. If you are in Pittsburgh this July 4th and looking for something a little larger than a few Roman candles and bottle rockets, the big event is the Zambelli Fireworks show over the three rivers.

But with the thousands of people who pour into the city to watch that show, trying to find a place to see the fireworks can become something of a battle. So, if you want to have a good seat, it’s time you started thinking like a soldier.

– Take to the water, where the barges that shoot the fireworks float. If you or a friend has a boat, then this is probably the closest seat to the action – and as close as you will come to being directly under the fireworks. It also lets you escape the crowds that occupy the land and ensures that you won’t have any part of the show blocked by another spectator’s unusually large head.

Of course, most people who come to see the fireworks don’t have this luxury. For those who don’t have a dinghy, other options exist. Let’s look at what land offers for everyone who doesn’t have a dinghy.

– Take the high ground. Mt. Washington offers an excellent vantage point from which to see the show – looking down on the city as each firework comes straight up to almost eye level. The idea of an explosive projectile that appears to be coming toward you might not be your idea of a good time, but this doesn’t deter many – it’s a good idea to come a little early, before this balcony seating fills up.

– Be one of the rabble: If all else fails, just join the throngs of shouting, excited people who will gather in Point State Park. This may well be the best seat. While you wait for the show, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be providing a free concert of patriotic music on the outdoor stage.

However you plan to watch the fireworks display and wherever you plan to go to watch them, good luck in finding a seat for the show, and enjoy.