I was a graduate student in Madison, WI in the mid-80’s and we used to go to Blackhawk Country Club to watch 4th of July fireworks. You would go to the course, take a blanket or beach towel and lie down on a green and look straight up and the display would fill your field of vision. One year we were there, and were particularly proximate to the launching site. As the show started, we realized we were a bit too close as the cardboard packaging of the fireworks were falling on us, to the point that safety goggles would have been smart. All of a sudden, the fireworks stop and fire department and EMT sirens are heard approaching. The program never resumed and everyone packed up and headed home.
In the paper the next day it was revealed that a fireworks exhibitionist (?) had been killed when he looked into the mortar tube of a launcher that did not work. Or so he thought. The mortar launched, hit him in the chin as he started to recoil. It then blew up and obliterated the poor fellow.
I was at Fiddler's Green, near Denver, in the late 80's at a concert featuring the band America. After which they had a 4th of July fireworks show.
It is indeed great to be nearly directly underneath the fireworks.
Today, our place has a great view of dozens of fireworks shows across the metro area.