Siesta fireworks dazzle despite damp weather

The Siesta Key Fourth of July fireworks show had some competition this year. 

As spectators gathered along the shoreline for the annual fireworks show organized by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, Mother Nature was brewing a fireworks show of her own. 

"It's not going to happen," Chamber Chairman Mark Smith said with resolve as he sat watching the sunset with his back to the storm front. 

But not even Smith's optimism could keep the rain away. 

Thirty minutes before the show's orchestrator Craig Merrill and his team were due to shoot off more than 2,000 firework shells, the fate of the show was yet to be determined. 

"We're playing it by ear," assistant pyrotechnician Andrew Thompson said glancing towards the storm clouds looming just south of the public beach. 

In the end, the rain did not dampen the team's resolve. The show began slightly earlier than planned and continued during the downpour that began half way through. 

Despite the precipitation, Merrill's audience persisted, staying until the end.

Although he kept his audience guessing, feigning a finale several times, there was no mistake when the true finale had finally begun. Merrill packed 700 shells in the final portion of the show alone. 

Spectators gave a round of applause as the last shell exploded over the beach before packing their belongings and running for shelter. 

Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ann Frescura said this year's show followed a series of landmark moments for Siesta Key. 

The 2015 the event celebrated the show's 25th year, and in 2016 the key celebrated the renovation in of Siesta Key Public Beach. 

For Frescura, this year had it's own significance. 

"This year (with Siesta) being the number one beach, we feel like we need to have the number one fireworks," Frescura said.