Del Rio fireworks business expands as demand grows for 250th year

Robert Palacio is turning Del Rio’s holiday appetite into a regional fireworks operation, with Palacio Fireworks & Pyrotechnics now running three locations in town and two more in Eagle Pass and Odessa. The business has expanded as demand rises ahead of America’s 250th anniversary year, and Palacio is pairing retail sales with display work that keeps his brand visible far beyond Val Verde County.

His Del Rio base at 68 East Las Chispas Street sits alongside another seasonal location on Highway 90 across from Laughlin Air Force Base, where customers can choose from more than 1,200 fireworks products. The company opened its seasonal stands June 24 and is scheduled to keep selling through July 5, the same window Texas sets for Independence Day retail fireworks sales in 2026.

State rules add another layer to the business. Fireworks sellers must hold a Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit and a permit or license from the Texas Department of Insurance, and the retail period runs from June 24, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. on July 5, 2026. Val Verde County has also adopted orders restricting fireworks during dry conditions, a reminder that the local market depends as much on weather and safety as it does on holiday demand.

Palacio has tied the business closely to Del Rio’s celebration culture. He said he is serving his hometown and wants the shows to stay family-friendly, noting that he has even provided free displays in the area. A show at the Duck Pond drew hundreds of cars, he said, and that turnout convinced him how deeply residents respond to public fireworks events.

That local demand is visible on the city calendar, where Del Rio’s 2026 Fourth of July celebration includes a parade on South Main Street and fireworks at the Dr. Alfredo Gutierrez Amphitheater. The schedule helps explain why a fireworks business has such strong resonance here, especially as communities mark the nation’s 250th anniversary and Freedom 250 organizes celebrations across all 50 states.

The operation also carries the safety pressures that come with the industry. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated 13,000 fireworks injuries and 15 reported fireworks-related deaths in 2025, making professional display services, designated shooting areas and careful permitting part of the business model, not just add-ons. Palacio’s network of demonstrations around Texas and beyond also helps him find hard-to-source inventory, linking a local retail boom to a broader pyrotechnics trade.