TAMPA, Fla. — Now that Santa Claus delivered presents and returned to the North Pole, many people around the world are preparing to ring in the new year.
With celebrations planned to be full of food and lots of fireworks, the New Year is something celebrated dating back some 4,000 years to ancient Babylon.
And for anyone wondering where exactly they can find fireworks to buy this year, we've got you covered.
Here's a breakdown of Tampa Bay-area stores to fill your carts at before the end of 2022.
Phantom Fireworks
As the Sunshine State's largest provider of fireworks, Phantom locations can be found in and around Tampa – and there's also an online store.
Locations:
- Phantom of Tampa South
- 3642 W. Gandy Blvd, Suite A, Tampa, FL 33611
- 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Sunday
9 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday
9 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday- Contact: 813-839-6751
- 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Sunday
- 3642 W. Gandy Blvd, Suite A, Tampa, FL 33611
- Phantom of Tampa
- 1031 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33612
- 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Sunday
9 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday
9 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday- Contact: 813-910-2955
- 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Sunday
- 1031 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33612
There are also tents set up across the Tampa Bay area – one in Pinellas Park and Clearwater.
Other locations across Florida can be found on Phantom's website by using the search tool.
Galaxy Fireworks Inc.
For anyone searching for fireworks to pop off as the clock strikes midnight this New Year's can head over to Galaxy Fireworks to spend some money.
Locations:
- 204 E Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tampa, FL 33603
- 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday
- 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (hours might differ)
- 9908 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33618
- 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday
- 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (hours might differ)
- 8415 N Armenia Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
- 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Tuesday-Friday
- 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (hours might differ)
There are also tents set up in Tampa and Pinellas Park.
TNT Fireworks
Just like Phantom, locations can be found in and around Tampa but also in St. Petersburg and Clearwater – and there's also an online store.
Locations:
- 1050 58th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
- Officially opens Tuesday, Dec. 27
- 1049 62nd Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
- Officially opens Tuesday, Dec. 27
- 8404 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33615
- Officially opens Tuesday, Dec. 27
- In Ross Plaza
- Officially opens Tuesday, Dec. 27
- 1725 34th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713
- Officially opens Tuesday, Dec. 28
- 2677 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33760
- Officially opens Tuesday, Dec. 29
And while fireworks are being bought left and right, some may be wondering if they are actually legal in the state of Florida.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law in April 2020 that allows Floridians to use fireworks legally – but only on three days out of the year.
Those days are Independence Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Basically, under state statutes, the types of fireworks people are allowed to set off on those three holidays are firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, roman candles, dago bombs, blank cartridges, toy cannons and fireworks containing any explosives or flammable compounds.
Pop-its, snaps, sparklers, glow worms, trick noisemakers, party poppers, booby traps, smoke devices, a cigarette load, trick matches and auto burglar alarms are allowed to be purchased anytime during the year as they are not defined as fireworks in the statutes.
For people who plan to pop fireworks at their home or someone else's, here are some safety tips from the National Council on Fireworks Safety.
- Never allow young children to handle fireworks
- Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
- Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
- Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
- Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
- Never light them indoors
- Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person
- Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
- Never ignite devices in a container
- Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
- Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
- Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire
- Never use illegal fireworks
10 Tampa Bay's Leo Santos contributed to this report.