Fireworks in Contrast - Mohegan Sun Casino and Split Rock Resort

Some people look forward to fireworks all year and wouldn’t miss their favorite spot. Others could probably care less. Though usually on the fence, this year I pursued two new venues and spread the holiday out for maximum bang.

Tuesday the 3rd ended with an exciting mega light show at the Mohegan Sun Casino on Rt. 315 in Plains. Traffic was heavy for the 9:30 event but we were able to park quickly. A short walk found us high on a hill beside the highway, nestled with anticipation if not the sweetest spot. Still, frisky families and romantic hearts clustered everywhere with faces upturned like children wishing on a star…that delivered!

Captivating us with a pageant of shine and sparkle and glitter galore, Mohegan’s show exploded out of the night and didn’t stop for 30 minutes straight. I don’t remember one pause. Their exuberant wall of light spanned a wide line of racetrack ground effects then rocketed up to towering cascades of fire. The ooo’s and ahh’s and wow's were punctuated by heady gasps of surprise and pyrotechnic delight. We left with hearts and imaginations full of independence…until we hit traffic. The less said about that poor encore the better.

Onto Friday the 6th at Lake Harmony. Split Rock Resort presented a fireworks display for $10 a carload. I chose to sit on the Lake Harmony side for free, kicking back in the grass beside Nick’s Lake House. From the small crowd of waterside celebrants, the contrast of scenes was striking. Traffic to or from 903, not unusual. Walking up to Piggy’s for an ice cream, first in line. Down to the lake we delved, licking fudge off fingers with blanket in tow. The show didn’t start until 10 and we arrived early for once. Live classic rock crooned from Nick’s dock with sweet songs of summer and free spirit. The atmosphere enveloped us. Flirtatious, enchanting, magical.

Then the music ended (booo). The fireworks started (yayyy). Directly across from Split Rock’s Lodge where the rockets launched, we saw perfectly if not as closely as those who paid the gate fee. Thankfully the waterfront display enhanced the somewhat plodding 20-minute show, as reflections cast sparklers like mermaids from the deep. No it was not as loud, or as colorful, glitzy or inspired. Nor anywhere near as massive as the casino show. But the scene at Lake Harmony—that laid back, nothing-to-rush-about, whispery lakeside serenade scene—oh now that was something special.

One dazzling extravaganza of light. The other dreamy lakefront night. The Pocono fireworks lineup is filled with a variety of downtown, waterfront, race track, mountain view and other special spots for eye- and ahhh-popping 4th of July spectacles to tease all tastes. Next year check out wnep.com or 800poconos.com for firework listings throughout Northeastern PA.