Fireworks display to be set off from Walled Lake

NOVI — Fireworks will be ignited over Walled Lake later this summer.

The Novi City Council voted June 3 to approve a request from a resident to have a large fireworks display ignited from two large barges in the center of the lake.

The request was brought forth by Eddie Hesano, the operator of Eddie’s Barrels of Wine in Walled Lake. According to documents submitted to the city, the show will include 450 3-inch display shells, 160 4-inch display shells, 100 5-inch display shells, 70 6-inch display shells, eight 8-inch display shells and eight various barrage cakes 3 inches and smaller in diameter. The show will be done by Great Lakes Fireworks LLC, a licensed pyrotechnic operator.

Before bringing his request to the city, Hesano acquired insurance for the event and the Novi Fire Department conducted a site inspection.

This was Hesano’s second request to have a fireworks show over Walled Lake. His first request in August 2023 to have a show over the Labor Day holiday was denied.

“I just don’t want us to get comfortable with constant requests for fireworks coming to us,” Mayor Pro Tem Laura Marie Casey said at the June 3 meeting, before making a motion for approval. “I think there is some hesitancy that I have about having a lot of fireworks. I think there are a lot of people for whom fireworks are a challenge.”

Hesano indicated to the council that he wants to do this once a year.

Mayor Justin Fischer said that he will support this one show but is not looking forward to repeated requests to do so in the future.

“We are looking at this from an ordinance review perspective. We don’t have all those pieces put together at this point. So we will be looking at what is the policy and framework for fireworks going forward,” Fischer said.

The council approved the motion for the event to be held at dusk on July 27 by a vote of 7-0.

According to the city, additional Police Department and Fire Department personnel will be assigned to cover the event to ensure adherence to all safety measures and processes.