- July 1, 2026
-
-
Loading
Loading
When Myakka City's Matt Bechler was 10 years old, he and his 8-year-old brother, Paul, brought some fireworks into a field.
It wasn't long before the field was on fire.
The two boys were momentarily trapped by the flames, but they managed to get to safety.
Such an experience might make most people want to avoid fireworks for the rest of their lives, but not the Bechlers. In fact, it might have elevated their interest.
Headed into July 4, Matt Bechler thought about why fireworks are so special to him.
"It's hard to put into words," he said. "When something is man-made, and when you light it ... a simple match can turn it into a bright, beautiful thing in the sky."
The Bechlers eventually started doing holiday fireworks shows in Paul's backyard or in the street in front of his Myakka City home. It became a place to be on July 4.
When Paul died in 2022, Matt kept up the tradition, but eventually turned to Travis Barfield in the hope of making the show bigger. They wanted to turn the event into something that thousands in the area could enjoy.
Travis Barfield, who owns Barfield Crane Services, was perfect for the task. When asked what makes fireworks so special to him, Barfield answered, "I love blowing stuff up, that's all I can tell you."
Barfield, who lives in Myakka City, talked to his wife, Martha, about doing such a show.
"Everyone said we needed to take it over," Travis Barfield said of the Bechlers' show. "I take what's in my mind and I get it into (Martha's) mind."
She was easy to convince.
"When you celebrate, fireworks touch your soul," she said. "It makes everything pop."
They forged ahead, and partnered with Matt Bechler, a lineman for Irby Construction, and his wife, Ashley.
In 2025, they planned the first Myakka Skyworks show. Instead of hosting in a backyard, though, they went to Marsha Parks, who donated the use of one of her fields at 40855 Parks Road. Parks' family has owned the ranchland in Myakka City for more than 100 years.
Ashley Bechler and Martha Barfield went to friends and neighbors to find out if there was support for such a show. Eventually, they purchased the needed supplies and produced a fireworks show that drew more than 1,500 spectators.
Ashley Bechler said it was the favorite fireworks show of her life, and noted it will get even better this year.
"They've never seen the kind of show they will experience this time," she said of the spectators who decide to attend the free show.
Travis Barfield said the show will last 37 minutes and by June 26, the Barfields and Bechlers had placed countless mortar tubes all over the property. Everything has to be laid out strategically as he noted that the fallout for a 10-inch shell is a 700-foot circumference. All spectators are kept more than 1,000 feet from the exploding shells.
Both the Barfields and the Bechlers have been attending every fireworks seminar possible and they travel to Muncie, Indiana for a fireworks convention that is held each April. This year's convention was called Elevate 2026.
The Barfields are licensed to produce fireworks shows. Matt Bechler hasn't applied for a license yet, but he certainly has the knowledge.
"I've always been around fireworks," he said. "You watch and learn."
Matt Bechler calls his wife the technical support system for the group.
Ashley Bechler, who owns Ashley's Cleaning Service, said her father, who was an Army veteran, taught her to respect the July 4 holiday when she was very young.
"He made it a big deal," she said.
Now she will do whatever is necessary to make sure the July 4 celebration in Myakka City comes off without a hitch.
"I just say, 'I am here, what do you want me to do?'" she said.
Last year's event saw the spectators all park along Parks Road, but this time around, cars will be parked in spaces in the fields.
It will be a far cry from the times when the Barfields and Bechlers did shows in a backyard.
Of course, it doesn't come cheap. Matt Bechler and Travis Barfield began doing shows together by lighting the fireworks by hand.
"A shell blew up this high above my ear," said Matt Bechler, who held his hand up alongside his forehead.
Then they purchased a "cheap" electronics firing system that didn't do a very good job launching the fireworks. Travis Barfield has since invested $40,000 for an electronics firing system that will launch the fireworks at their July 4 show.
"It is the safest way to do it," Travis Barfield said.
The Barfields and Bechlers lose money on their show, but as Matt Bechler said, "What hobby doesn't cost you money?
"When you are passionate about something, it doesn't matter. And you don't work in this 100-degree heat unless you are passionate."
Putting on such a show does have many expenses, and takes support from the community. Parks said she fell in love with fireworks when her family used to attend the July 4 show over the Green Bridge in Bradenton. Now she helps by donating the land for the event, along with spraying for bugs and watering to reduce any possible hazard from fireworks landing in the grass. She also urged the Manatee County Cattlemen's Association (she is a board member) to be a sponsor.
Martha Barfield, who manages a dental office, said Parrish Well Drilling has been of tremendous help in putting on the show.
It all comes to fruition on July 4.
"After last year's show, people kept telling me I can't out-do it," Travis Barfield said. "So it's game on."
