IDAHO FALLS, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

If you expect to find the largest Fourth of July fireworks shows in big cities, you might be surprised to learn that Idaho Falls, Idaho actually delivers one of Americas biggest Independence Day fireworks shows.

The 21stAnnual Melaleuca Freedom Celebration will pack 17,261 shells into a 31-minute production. As measured by the number of shells fired into the sky, the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration is the nations largest fireworks show west of the Mississippi and one of Americas biggest and best displays for raw pyrotechnic firepower. Reflecting over the water of the Snake River, this fireworks show averages 9.6 shells per second, all choreographed note for note and shell for shell with a moving arrangement of energy-packed music and patriotic messages.

Having earned a reputation as one of the top fireworks shows in the U.S., the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration has become an annual tradition for more than 150,000 enthusiasts from surrounding communities and from across the nation. With such a draw, the event regularly triples the citys population.

The 2013 Melaleuca Freedom Celebration will be the largest fireworks show in Idaho since it became a state in 1890. The shows sponsor, Melaleuca, adds to the shows budget each year to assure it remains the largest show west of the Mississippi.

With free admission to the public, each year the program pays tribute to the sacrifice of the soldiers and their families who have sacrificed their lives and loved ones to secure and preserve the freedoms of this great nation.

The 2013 program theme and soundtrack will be broadcast live on KLCE Classy 97.3 FM. The shows soundtrack will feature a mix of musical genres, including patriotic, pop, rock and country. Most importantly, the narration takes the audience through key events in our nations history, blending in voice recordings of famous heroes, statesmen and national leaders.

We benefit every single day from the sacrifice of over a million people who gave their lives protecting our freedoms, said Melaleuca CEO Frank VanderSloot. Sometimes we take their sacrifice for granted. At this celebration, we take 31 minutes to celebrate their courage and pay tribute to them and their families. Its the least we can do. When people ask what a show like this costs, our answer is, it costs absolutely nothing compared to the price that they paid for our freedom.

Using the latest technology to design and choreograph this fireworks display, the program synchronizes each shell with the musical score. Precision between the fireworks breathtaking explosions and the musical program on the radio is achieved because the fireworks are computer-fired. The choreographers paint the entire sky with low-level, mid-level and high-in-the-sky pyrotechnics. The shows designers decide which pyrotechnic effects to use depending on the mood and tempo of the song or patriotic message at that particular moment.

This years show contains many new special effects, such as a rapid-fire peacock red go-getter that fires 540 shots in 8 seconds across the horizon in a zipping pattern. The gold-rain crossettes show brilliant stars splitting into numerous comets. And the multi-colored falling leaves will display waterfall patterns in thousands of colors.

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The 21st Annual Melaleuca Freedom Celebration Hosts One of America’s Biggest Fourth of July Fireworks Shows