Why were fireworks going off at 10 p.m. in Garden City? Here’s who was celebrating
It’s not July and New Year’s Eve was a couple of weeks ago. So those in areas of Boise and Garden City were surprised Tuesday to hear loud booms and bangs as bright fireworks filled the air above Expo Idaho on a random January night.
Residents took to social media to express their confusion about the display, which went off shortly after 10 p.m.
“I live about a mile from fairgrounds and definitely a long display,” said one Reddit user. “Trying to figure (what) was happening at the fairgrounds tonight. Definitely not a Hawks game.”
Quite true. The Boise Hawks independent league baseball team is in action over the summer, not winter.
“We’re in Garden City, about a mile, give or take, and I heard them,” added another. “Thought I was trippin’ until my husband saw this post.”
“Huge fireworks show, like 4th of July level,” someone else chimed in. “Watched from my porch and was loud as hell.”
As it turns out, the fireworks were set off by local car dealership Dennis Dillon GMC Sales & Service. The company hosted a private banquet for employees and business partners at Expo Idaho to celebrate its 50th anniversary, according to Tracy Crane, Dennis Dillon’s general counsel.
The event included dinner and speakers who “reflected on the growth of the company over the past 50 years and hopes for continued success in the future,” Crane told the Idaho Statesman by phone.
The fireworks were set off at the conclusion of the banquet.
“As a dealer that’s been present in the valley for so long, we would hope that readers would be excited to see that we’re a company that’s committed to the community and hope to provide another 50 years of customer service and employment to the people of Treasure Valley,” Crane said.
Expo Idaho Director Bob Batista said Dennis Dillon hired the same fireworks company used by the Boise Hawks.
“The noise level from the fireworks show for Dennis Dillion are of the same caliber that is used by the Boise Hawks,” Batista said in an email. “This is a rare occasion that a renter of Expo Idaho asks for a firework show. The promoter (Dennis Dillion) received a pyrotechnic permit from the city of Boise and the Boise Fire Dept. to conduct this show.”
