The sky over Seaside lights up July Fourth during the annual fireworks display.

For 28 minutes, the skies in Seaside will be ablaze with the annual Fourth of July fireworks show on the beach.

But what does it take to plan for Oregon’s third-largest fireworks spectacle?

“Well, we choose the music a whole year in advance,” pyrotechnics specialist Larry Kriegshauser said. “Then programming the music and the fireworks together probably takes about 60 to 80 hours.”

Kriegshauser has been the wizard behind the curtain of the Seaside fireworks shows for more than 17 years, and has been designing shows across the country every Fourth of July since 1970.

In addition to fireworks, Seaside’s Fourth of July celebrations include a performance from The Oregon Crusaders — Oregon’s only World Class Drum and Bugle Corps — a parade and a social and silent auction.

When he starts designing the show, choosing the music is the bedrock upon which everything else is built, Kriegshauser said. This year it will be a collection of music composed by John Williams, famously known for his “Jaws” and “Star Wars” scores.

When choosing the songs, Kriegshauser looks for a variety of dynamics.

“I look for points of crescendo, as well as mellow and smooth moments, which would translate into blue and green fireworks,” he said. “But that’s like asking an artist to describe how to paint a picture.

“But I suppose that’s what we are kind of doing — we’re painting the sky, with music.”

While much of the work leading up to the show is meticulous and labor-intensive, at 74 Kriegshauser still gets excited to see the shows he creates.

“When you’re finished, and you see thousands of people yelling and screaming about something you did, it’s a drug — the only drug I’ve taken,” he laughed. “You just made 40,000 people have a very enjoyable evening, and that’s why I’m involved.”

But before 50,000 expected spectators can enjoy the show, the Seaside Chamber of Commerce works with city staff, public works, volunteers and donors to make sure the show is funded and safe, event organizer Brian Owen said.

This year, Owen said they are $5,000 shy of their $50,000 goal with about one week left to go before Independence Day. While in the past the show has been mostly corporately sponsored, this will be the first year where the Chamber will start a GoFundMe page to raise more community donations, Owen said.

“I think we need to catch up with the times. Lots of people want to contribute to the community, and doing it this way makes it easy for both to donate $5 or $10, or for a company sponsor to donate as well,” Owen said.

This year, the Chamber is expecting about 30,000 to 50,000 spectators — a lower estimate than in previous years when turnout has reached 100,000. Independence Day falling on a Tuesday this year is probably the reason for it, he said.

While this is Owen’s first year organizing the festivities, he has been in the area for four years and has grown to love the event, regardless of size.

“My favorite place to watch is on the promenade between Avenue A and First Street,” Owen said. “I love seeing the faces of families light up with excitement — that’s what this day is about.”

If you go:

11 a.m.: Parade begins at 12th Avenue and Necanicum Drive, turns right on Holladay Drive, down Broadway Street, across to Columbia Street, then back to Necanicum Drive.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Social and Silent Auction. Games, food booths, cakewalk and Bingo will be held at the Seaside Museum & Historical Society.

2 p.m.: The Oregon Crusaders will perform on Broadway Field.

10 p.m.: Fireworks show begins at the turnaround. Music with the show can be heard at KSWB Radio Clatsop 98.1.