Independence Day Celebration Lights Up Sahlen Field

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bisons are scheduled to face the Rochester Red Wings to kick off the ballpark’s Independence Day celebration at 6:05 p.m. Wednesday.

So if you’re looking for a place to see fireworks tonight, you might also be able to catch a baseball game and a concert.

We wouldn’t have an exhibition without doing all the adjustments. Matt Shaw from Skylighters has been lighting them for a long time.

“Twenty-one years! This is the biggest Buffalo Bisons show with the BPO (Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra),” Shaw said.

One of the things they do is set off fireworks. And no, they’re not cannons. They’re more like typical legal fireworks, just with a little more oomph.

One of the things they do is set up the fireworks. It’s more like a typical legal fireworks display in your backyard, with a little more oomph!

“It’s a crackling effect that will be a great visual on the field,” Shaw says.

And to create the kind of show Shaw wants, there have to be a lot of them. Shaw says there are several thousand fireworks. Then each firework is wired so that a computer can control when each one is launched.

“We have 59 shows over the next four nights. It all starts a year in advance with all the planning, permits and all the logistics,” Shaw said.

These are shows that Western New Yorkers enjoy seeing every year.

“It gets better every year. My kids love it. We have a great time. We’ve been coming here for 15 years. I got a suite. It’s all good,” says one baseball fan.

Families are also beginning to create new traditions.

Doors opened at 4:30 p.m. and the Independence Day celebration officially began at 6:05 p.m. with the first pitch.

After the game, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra performed a concert filled with patriotic tunes and pop classics. There was also a large fireworks display.

And there are special moments tonight to honor the men and women who have served our country.

“That’s what this day is about, you know, it’s also fun and it’s a celebration, but there’s a reason we can celebrate, and that’s because of the sacrifices and the heroic efforts of so many, and we’re honored to tell two stories tonight. First of all, our first pitch. Joe Synakowski from Buffalo. A 94-year-old World War II veteran. You can do the math in your head, it may not add up and that’s because he was 15 when he enlisted. He lied about his age so he could fight for his country and that’s truly heroic,” said Buffalo Bisons Assistant General Manager Brad Bisbing.

Charles DeGlopper of Grand Island, who also served in World War II, was awarded the Medal of Honor and will also be honored during the game. He helped save his platoon after the Normandy invasion.

Tickets are still available at the box office.