Fireworks show to consist of sparklers, dancing Sunoco employees

The troubled economy has claimed yet another victim. Although the Sunoco Welcome America celebration will not be completely eliminating its fireworks display, it will be markedly cut back.

There have been several changes to this year's layout of the stage and an increase in areas around the Philadelphia Museum of Art restricted to the public.

"We moved the stage forward this year to make room for about two hundred Sunoco employees on the Art Museum steps," said a smiling Kyle Johns, a representative from Sunoco. "We know oil, but we also know how to celebrate the Fourth. And, let's face it, we know oil."

The Sunoco employees (including the Refinery Nine a cappella group) positioned on the famous steps will each be given a sparkler towards the end of the Sheryl Crow concert (the headline act of the night) and, as the music concludes, will light the sparklers at a given signal making a great spectacle for the onlookers close by.

"The sparklers will be the fireworks show for this year," said a frowning Johns. "It was either have nothing or have a couple hundred sparklers. I think it will all work out. I'm ready for a great concert."

Johns went on the say that the show will be entirely choreographed to music and each sparkler will be five inches longer to extend the show by 15 seconds, bringing the total burning/show time to just over 45 seconds. Sunoco covered the bill for the extra-long sparklers and got permission from the state to use the extra-long, illegal sparklers.

The city did not publicly announce the plans for the massively scaled back display and hope residents gathering for the show that are not within view of the steps will not be too disappointed.

"We thought there would be a large negative response to the sparkler show," said a city official, who would only give his name as H. "We are hoping police will subtly guide spectators closer to the stage for a better view."

Also considered for a fireworks substitute was one single, giant sparkler (possibly 20 ft in length) placed on the roof of the Art Museum. This idea was scrapped when experts predicted a 25-45 minute lighting time for the "giant fancy candle."

"You know how long it takes to light a normal-sized sparkler, think about a 20-footer, 8-inch diameter sparkler," said H.

Sunoco is encouraging all those attending the festivities along the Parkway to drive and "fuel up at one of our many area stations."