COLUMBUS - The people of Columbus will be treated to quite the fireworks show Wednesday, July 3 at Ag Park for the city's annual Red, White and Kaboom celebration for Independence Day.

Stromsburg-based Midwest Pyrotechnics is putting on the 21-minute show that consists of about 700 shells. It is one of 37 shows the company will put on this year across Nebraska. 

Midwest Pyrotechnics co-owner Ryan Peterson is a farmer by trade but his love of fireworks goes back years to spending time with his Uncle Greg Johnson.

"We'd make an annual trip to Missouri to get the good stuff," Peterson said. "Eventually we got to spending enough money where we thought we needed to get the really good stuff."

Peterson’s Uncle has passed away, but Peterson still has a family connection in the business. He brought on his nephew Cade Brazda to help out with the business. Peterson said Brazda is crucial to putting these shows together. He does a lot of behind the scenes work that not many see. Brazda also recruits his friends to help out with setting up some of the shows. 

"He came up to me and said 'Do you want to work for me at my pyrotechnics business?'," Brazda said. "I asked, 'Well do I get paid?' He said, 'Yeah you get paid to play with fireworks.' That sold me and I've been here since."

As for the Columbus show,  Peterson's fellow co-owner and longtime friend Brian Buller said all the hours of work organizing and setting up the show will pay off in a big way.

"I challenge anybody to find five seconds where there isn't anything going on in the show," Buller said.

When asked what makes all the work worth it, Peterson also laid out a challenge. 

"Show up and you'll find out," he said. "It's exciting."

Gates open for Red, White and Kaboom at 7:00 p.m. and live music begins at 7:30 p.m. The fireworks show starts at 10:00 p.m.