Newton At-Large City Councilman Randy Ervin is a fireworks enthusiast. He was one of the leading forces in Newton that helped the City land the 2022 Pyrotechnic Guild International (PGI) Convention. This week it was announced that the independent worldwide nonprofit organization of amateur and professional fireworks enthusiasts would return to Newton for next year. Ervin believes that says something about the community.

“We are by far the smallest community that’s ever held a PGI Convention. We compete with Brainerd Minnesota, Oshkosh Wisconsin, and other big metro areas. But their members just love coming to Newton. This was backed by not just their Board but several members. So this is a hats off to our community that they were so well received and well liked that they want to come back here.”

The 2025 Pyrotechnic Guild International Annual convention will be held the week of August 3rd next year. Pyrotechnics Guild International was founded in 1969 and is the largest pyrotechnics community in the world. The nightly  fireworks displays that are part of the PGI convention will be held in the Woodland Park area on Newton’s northside.