When Are Fireworks Actually Legal In Michigan

The weather held out and the fireworks were spectacular over the 4th of July in and around the Greater Grand Rapids area and West Michigan.

Local neighborhood fireworks were pretty good, too. But, enough is enough and if you still have some fireworks left over, don't do it! It's time to wait for Labor Day, the next legal holiday to shoot all your stuff off.

Fourth of July Fireworks — Photos: Canva

Why?

Michigan law, and most local regulations say it is illegal to shoot off fireworks except around legal holidays.

👇 BELOW: FIND OUT HOW FIREWORKS GET THEIR COLORS! 👇

According to The Times Herald.com website, these are the legal times we can blast away with all the fun stuff.

The Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Labor Day, from 11 a.m. until 11:45 p.m. on each of those days.
Dec. 31, from 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1.
The Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Memorial Day, from 11 a.m. until 11:45 p.m. on each of those days.
June 29 to July 4, from 11 a.m. until 11:45 p.m. on each of those days.
July 5, if that date is a Friday or Saturday, from 11 a.m. until 11:45 p.m.

And, all fireworks must be set off on personal, private property, not public spaces like schools, churches, city, county and state parks, etc.

That said, you always should check with local government, city, county and township, to see if they have their own rules and regulations.

Also, there are Michigan regulations for what you can and cannot fire off. Aerials, Reloadable shell devices, Bottle rockets/sky rockets, Roman candles and others are legal.

Of course, low impact fireworks such as Sparklers, Smoke devices, etc. are certainly legal, as are novelty things like Snappers, Drop Pops and others.

What is illegal are M-80s, Cherry Bombs, and more of that type. They are very dangerous and nobody should be playing with them, period.

How Do Fireworks Get Their Colors?

Besides being a fun fact to impress your friends during the finale, knowing what makes fireworks work is a reminder of just how intertwined our daily lives are with Earth’s natural resources. Some of these minerals are considered critical commodities, meaning they’re vital to modern life and can be difficult to source.

So the next time you see a shimmering white sparkle or a deep red bloom over the Mohawk River, you’ll know: there's real science, and some pretty rare elements behind all that beauty.

It all comes down to chemistry. When fireworks are launched, metallic compounds, also called mineral elements, are heated to really hot temperatures. And as they burn, they emit specific colors of light.

The more complex the mix, the more dazzling the display.

Gallery Credit: Unsplash/TSM