Pyrotechnics Guild International

Congratulations!

Harrison Marchio, at 12 years old, is the youngest Old Snort ⁽¹⁾.

Harrison's 1st PGI Convention was in 1999 before he turned one. He joined the JPA in 2008, along with many of his friends from the NLP, and regularly attends the JPA's safety class. What he enjoys about the PGI and the JPA is camping with his family and friends, getting to see great shows every night. Harrison's favorite thing to do is to shop in the Class C tent and then to shoot them on the C-Line.

At Convention Harrison likes to help the JPA, spend time with his friends especially those he can only see there and helps with lemonade sales to raise funds for JPA. As of 2010, he has attended 13 Conventions.

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(1) The Old Snorts are PGI members that have attended at least 10 PGI Conventions.

Junior Pyrotechnics Association

The Junior Pyrotechnics Association (JPA) is made up of youth, aged 6 to 17, who are either related to a PGI member or who are PGI members on their own. JPA members are dedicated pyrotechnic enthusiasts who want to learn how to safely handle, manufacture and use fireworks.

Working under the close supervision of experienced hobbyists and fireworks professionals JPA members learn how to plan, how to setup and, most importantly, how to shoot a public fireworks display. They gain hands on experience working side by side with their parent or guardian ⁽²⁾. Most of the fireworks used by the JPA are donated by PGI Members and Consumer Fireworks Vendors. Some of the effects are built on site by the JPA members themselves. On Wednesday night, the week of the PGI Convention, the JPA invites PGI members and the public to sit back and enjoy their fabulous display.

The week ends with a party where the JPA members celebrate their success and start planning for next year. After it's all said and done it's hard to tell who's prouder, the members of the JPA or their parents.