Guy Fawke's night is sure to go off with a bang this year - despite fewer public displays in the Western Bay and calls to ban the sale of crackers to the public.
St Mary's Catholic School is pressing ahead with its annual display tomorrow night, and Fairhaven School in Te Puke is putting on a show on Saturday night.
Bayfair Park will also go off with a fireworks show, marking the official start of the speedway season.
St Mary's School spokeswoman Ange McManaway said she expected crowds to descend on the school on Guy Fawke's but was unsure on what numbers to expect.
"It's really hard to gauge this year seeing as Bethlehem's was rained out last week and Matua is not having theirs this year, we rally can't judge how many people there will be."
She said the event had been getting more popular each year.
Fairhaven School secretary Alison Gray said the school's Saturday pyrotechnics show was open for all.
"The more the better."
She said the numbers grew each year and up to 7000 people were expected at the event.
The Matua Primary School annual fireworks gala has been cancelled due to problems caused by drunken teens and soaring insurance costs. Bethlehem College has closed its fireworks event to the public for the second year in a row.
New Zealand Fire Service national commander Mike Hall said the debate on public use of fireworks needed to be reopened.
Already this week there had been several incidents around the country, including a classroom being razed and letterboxes blown up by sparkler bombs.
"It is the usual problem where a destructive few ruin it for the majority.
"Many families are responsible with firework use but too many fireworks are getting into the hands of young people bent on causing mayhem."
One of the Western Bay's leading fireworks retailers, The Warehouse, has been doing a brisk trade in the days leading up to Guy Fawke's.
Bay of Plenty regional manager Elwyn McGoran said sparklers were one of this year's best sellers, while sales of variety fireworks packs were also "rocketing".
"People are tending to buy one of the family packs and are then getting a handful of the loose fireworks on top of that," he said.
For extremists, The Warehouse's most expensive packs is the $99.99 Silver Dragon Reload Box.
For those on a smaller budget, a packet of small sparklers will set you back 99 cents.
Tauranga Fire Service senior officer Paul Mellsop said no extra staff would be scheduled over Guy Fawke's night in the Western Bay.
"It's no longer a big problem for us now that skyrockets are off the market. Things are generally a lot quieter."
The public was generally aware of firework safety and more people were attending organised displays.
"Obviously there's the usual safety precautions - make sure there is adult supervision and don't pick up any crackers that have not gone off."
Mr Mellsop said last year's Guy Fawke's was damp and therefore a quiet one for local firefighters - he was hoping for similar conditions this year.
So far, things had been generally quiet.
"You always get a few cases of youngsters running around putting fireworks in letterboxes and firing them at each other," Mr Mellsop said. "It's not recommended but it's hard to stop. You could imagine if one of those went off in your face the sort of damage it could do."
SPCA acting chief executive Jenny Prattley described Guy Fawke's as an "animals' night of terror".
"For countless animals the inexplicable screeches, flashes and explosions can be a horrendous experience," she said.
"The best possible thing that pet owners can do on Guy Fawke's night is stay at home and keep them company rather than go to a fireworks party."
MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said it would be cloudy, warm and reasonably dry in the Western Bay tomorrow.
Fireworks night set to sparkle
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