Rose Bowl Gears Up For Fourth Of July Celebration

PASADENA (CBS) — It's been called Southern California's largest fireworks show and this year, organizers of "Americafest 2011" are gearing up to put on a show that's promising to be bigger than ever.

A record 6,000 shells are expected to explode into the night's sky at the Rose Bowl during the Fourth of July celebration with an expected 60,000 attendees.

CBS2's Suzanne Marques spoke with the mastermind behind the fireworks show, Paul Souza of Pyro Spectaculars by Souza.

"It's a 30 minute show. It's designed to music. The shells will be going off to the beats and follow the theme of the soundtrack," he said.

His goal? To take your breath away... and get the inevitable pats on the back when the show's over.

"And as people are going home, they honk and scream out the window 'thanks' and 'great jobs.' It's sort of why I do it," Souza added.

CBS2 and KCAL9 are proud sponsors of this year's celebration themed "Celebrate America" with news anchors Pat Harvey and Paul Magers as the hosts.

Admission tickets are $13 each and parking is $20 with kids 7 and under, as well as those in the military, getting in free.

The festivities kick off at 2 p.m. outside the stadium with gates opening by 6 p.m.

For more information, visit the Rose Bowl Web site.