In keeping with the 250th Anniversary ethos, this year's Independence Week festivities are going bigger. At Prescott High's Wolf Stadium, the billowing bursts started about three minutes after nine and did not let up until 9:35.

About 250 gathered in the home bleachers, ordering popcorn, cotton candy and bags of chips, anticipating the show. When it finally began, after a solemn singing of the national anthem, it was all that was expected plus about 15 more minutes. There was no music as the bombs burst in air, just the peeling motorcycle engine-like sound as the glowing orbs went up and the cracks and booms as they split into radiant petals of colored flame. Our photos try to capture a sense of it.