Event Schedule

Below is the MOST CURRENT 2024 WinterBlast event schedule. All classes, sessions, seminars, etc. are subject to change without notice. Please check for the most up-to-date information about the event. Click the event title to read more about the event and its presenters. 

PLEASE NOTE, ALL EVENTS ARE IN MOUNTAIN TIME (MT)

 

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Winter Blast - Public - Session Search

Burst Workshop

Workshop | Tent 2

Wednesday, 02/14
10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Mike Garrett | Steve Wilson

Fireworks shells built during the workshops need burst in them so they open and display properly in the sky. In this workshop we will make all of the . . . burst required to support the shell workshops. This year we will make two types of burst – black powder coated rice hulls (BPCRH) for the round shell workshops and pulverone for the Italian shell workshop. Pulverone isn’t really burst, but it does burn up completely and it needed to help pack Italian shell good and tight. There will be discussion about what we are making and why. Come prepared to get your hands dirty.

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Comet Workshop Prep

Workshop | Tent 3

Wednesday, 02/14
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Steve Wilson

In this session we will weigh, mix, screen and dampen all of the comps that will be used in the Comets Workshop happening the next day. A good . . . opportunity to learn how to handle chemicals.

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Workshop Prep – Fusing & lift sub-assembly (for ball shells & mines)

Workshop | Tent 2

Wednesday, 02/14
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Mike Garrett | Steve Wilson

All those seminars and workshops take a lot of supplies that need to be prepared so you can enjoy your week. Get your hands dirty with some of the . . . preparation work such as cutting quick match, visco or timefuse. Time fuse needs to be cross-matched and black powder lift needs to be weighed out. The requirements vary from year to year.

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Go Getter Prep Workshop

Workshop | Tent 3

Wednesday, 02/14
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Monty Gill | Monica Blam

In this session we will prime all of the Go Getter inserts that will be used in the 4″ & 5″ Go Getter Workshop on Thursday. Please come lend a . . . hand on this task, even if you are not registered in the class.

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Open WASP Workshop

Workshop | WASP Tent

Wednesday, 02/14
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
WASP Staff

Utilize our club’s WASP for expertly pasting your fireworks, ensuring a perfectly round break with precision application. The WASP machine, coupled . . . with its advanced WASP3 software, guarantees uniform coverage and optimal performance of your spherical shells. Observe the impeccable precision in the tape pattern demonstrated in the image, highlighting the WASP’s accuracy and efficiency.

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2″ Comets – Part I

Workshop | Tent 3

Thursday, 02/15
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Steve Wilson | Scott Morton | Clara Carstensen

This is a multi-part workshop with a prerequisite seminar. To attend this workshop participants are required to attend the session ‘Star Plates & . . . Comet Pumps Overview’ – No Exceptions. This will get the participants set up to be successful and safe in the next parts. In this workshop participants will make two 2″ comets that they can fire on the B-line the following day. Various compositions will be available to choose from to give a little creative variety. Participants will have the choice of making glitter comets, married comets, cavity or crossettes. Once pressed, the comets need to dry overnight in our heated drying box. On the following day participants can lift and leader the comet to make a finished device. Completed devices will be available on the B-line for firing Friday evening.

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5″ Ball Shell Workshop – Part II, Group 1

Workshop | Tent 2

Thursday, 02/15
12:30 PM to 1:00 PM
Mike Garrett

Have you ever wanted to build a round ball shells? Then this workshop is a good place to start.  This workshop will teach you how to make your own 5” . . . paper ball shell. Working with experienced shell builders, you will get hands-on knowledge that will guide you in building a ball shell that looks and performs just like the pros.  There are three workshop parts: The first part, ‘Introduction to Ball Shells’, has a tutorial, demonstration and Q&A. That is followed by Part II for the assembly and wrapping of your shell. A fleet of WASP machines will be used to expedite this procedure. The shell is then dried overnight.  On the following day, in the third session, you will apply the lift and leader to the shell.  Your shell can be fired that night on the B-line in a special area just for us.

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5″ Ball Shell Workshop – Part II, Group 2

Workshop | Tent 2

Thursday, 02/15
1:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Mike Garrett

Have you ever wanted to build a round ball shells? Then this workshop is a good place to start.  This workshop will teach you how to make your own 5” . . . paper ball shell. Working with experienced shell builders, you will get hands-on knowledge that will guide you in building a ball shell that looks and performs just like the pros.  There are three workshop parts: The first part, ‘Introduction to Ball Shells’, has a tutorial, demonstration and Q&A. That is followed by Part II for the assembly and wrapping of your shell. A fleet of WASP machines will be used to expedite this procedure. The shell is then dried overnight.  On the following day, in the third session, you will apply the lift and leader to the shell.  Your shell can be fired that night on the B-line in a special area just for us.

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5″ Ball Shell Workshop – Part II, Group 3

Workshop | Tent 2

Thursday, 02/15
1:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Mike Garrett

Have you ever wanted to build a round ball shells? Then this workshop is a good place to start.  This workshop will teach you how to make your own 5” . . . paper ball shell. Working with experienced shell builders, you will get hands-on knowledge that will guide you in building a ball shell that looks and performs just like the pros.  There are three workshop parts: The first part, ‘Introduction to Ball Shells’, has a tutorial, demonstration and Q&A. That is followed by Part II for the assembly and wrapping of your shell. A fleet of WASP machines will be used to expedite this procedure. The shell is then dried overnight.  On the following day, in the third session, you will apply the lift and leader to the shell.  Your shell can be fired that night on the B-line in a special area just for us.

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6″ Double Petal Ball Shell Workshop – Part I

Workshop | Tent 3

Thursday, 02/15
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Ellen Webb

In this hands-on workshop participants will build 6” round double petal chrysanthemum shells. Using the traditional Japanese method, the inner petal . . . will be formed with only black powder-coated rice hulls and tissue paper. It is recommended that participants have some shell-building experience beforehand. The 5” Ball Shell workshop, for instance, would provide an excellent background.

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5″ Ball Shell Workshop – Part II, Group 4

Workshop | Tent 2

Thursday, 02/15
2:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Mike Garrett

Have you ever wanted to build a round ball shells? Then this workshop is a good place to start.  This workshop will teach you how to make your own 5” . . . paper ball shell. Working with experienced shell builders, you will get hands-on knowledge that will guide you in building a ball shell that looks and performs just like the pros.  There are three workshop parts: The first part, ‘Introduction to Ball Shells’, has a tutorial, demonstration and Q&A. That is followed by Part II for the assembly and wrapping of your shell. A fleet of WASP machines will be used to expedite this procedure. The shell is then dried overnight.  On the following day, in the third session, you will apply the lift and leader to the shell.  Your shell can be fired that night on the B-line in a special area just for us.

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5″ Ball Shell Workshop – Part II, Group 5

Workshop | Tent 2

Thursday, 02/15
2:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Mike Garrett

Have you ever wanted to build a round ball shells? Then this workshop is a good place to start.  This workshop will teach you how to make your own 5” . . . paper ball shell. Working with experienced shell builders, you will get hands-on knowledge that will guide you in building a ball shell that looks and performs just like the pros.  There are three workshop parts: The first part, ‘Introduction to Ball Shells’, has a tutorial, demonstration and Q&A. That is followed by Part II for the assembly and wrapping of your shell. A fleet of WASP machines will be used to expedite this procedure. The shell is then dried overnight.  On the following day, in the third session, you will apply the lift and leader to the shell.  Your shell can be fired that night on the B-line in a special area just for us.

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4″ & 5″ Go-Getter Shell Workshop

Workshop | Tent 2

Thursday, 02/15
3:05 PM to 5:00 PM
Monty Gill | Monica Blam

‘Introduction to Ball Shells’ is a required prerequisite for this workshop. Participants will build two Go-Getter shells in this workshop; a 4″ . . . Go-getter shell to shoot at the B-line whenever you like, and (optionally) a 5″ Go-getter shell that will be featured in a member display. A Go-Getter is a novel firework effect. These are special stars made in a tube with an energetic color formula that causes it to jet around in random directions.

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Open WASP Workshop (priority given to the 3 Ball Shell workshops)

Workshop | WASP Tent

Thursday, 02/15
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
WASP Staff

Utilize our club’s WASP for expertly pasting your fireworks, ensuring a perfectly round break with precision application. The WASP machine, coupled . . . with its advanced WASP3 software, guarantees uniform coverage and optimal performance of your spherical shells. Observe the impeccable precision in the tape pattern demonstrated in the image, highlighting the WASP’s accuracy and efficiency.

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4″ Italian Shell Workshop – Part I

Workshop | Tent 2

Friday, 02/16
9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Kurt Medlin | Scott Morton | Joseph Madziarczyk | Steve Wilson

Make a cylinder shell using traditional Italian methods. This workshop has two parts happening on successive days. The first part will be a . . . lecture/discussion in the beginning and then each participant gets to build their own 4″ Italian Shell. This includes rolling a case, filling it with stars and burst, sealing it up, spiking and paste wrapping. The pasted paper wrap needs to dry overnight. On the following day Part II will have the participants apply the lift and leader parts of their shell. Completed shells will be transported to the B-line for firing. Find you completed shell in the red ready box towards the left side of B-line.

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6″ Double Petal Ball Shell Workshop – Part II

Workshop | Tent 3

Friday, 02/16
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Ellen Webb

Lift and Leader of 6” round double petal chrysanthemum shells. Using the traditional Japanese method, the inner petal will be formed with only black . . . powder-coated rice hulls and tissue paper. It is recommended that participants have some shell-building experience beforehand. The 5” Ball Shell workshop, for instance, would provide an excellent background.

Explore Session >>

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