News Boomtown lights up Vinton skies; show bigger each year

More Iowa Pyrotechnic Association members.

More audience members. 

More fireworks. 

More noise

And this year, thanks to Veridian Credit Union, more corporate sponsorship. 

All of this adds up to a bigger Boomtown than last year. 

The fourth annual Boomtown filled the grandstands and fairgrounds, and brought thousands of people to Vinton to see the fireworks show and the homemade shells of IPA members. 

Four years ago, the IPA had 100 members; that number has quadrupled, thanks in large part to Boomtown. 

And despite rain throughout the day, and after the show, the fireworks were as hot and bright and loud as ever. 

The finale was a carefully choreographed show that mixed fireworks with a variety of music. 

"I spent 10 hours on one three-minute song," said IPA member Ray Garris of Waterloo. He spent an entire day listening to the song, determining when to time the fireworks so that his comets fired one direction for one beat, and the other direction for the next beat. 

The effects of those efforts by many IPA members were obvious in the show. In on song, the words, "hot, hot hot'' were each accompanied by a timely fireball made from coffee creamer. 

And the audience let the IPA know how much it appreciated the efforts, standing, applauding and cheering loudly throughout the show, and even more loudly as it ended. 

"Do you want to see more?" asked announcer Tom Pingenot

When the audience cheered in response, Pingenot said, "Come back next year." 

And if history is any indication, they will -- along with many more.