For the weak of heart

Hate Piccalo Petes? Can’t stand the glare of a Roman candle?

No need to worry. There are fireworks for everyone.

Costa Mesa doesn’t allow fireworks stands to sell their wares

before Tuesday, so the only products available at press time were

novelty fireworks that are sold year-round.

This turned out to be a blessing of sorts. Big exploding bursts of

light may not be for everyone, so here’s a set of novelty items that

the meek of heart can enjoy on the Fourth of July.

THE PRODUCT: TNT Pyro Pack, assortment of novelty fireworks

THE PRICE: $29.95 at Target

WHAT’S INSIDE: A variety of hand-held noisemakers with some kick.

The mechanics of these are simple: Point the product away from

yourself, pull a spring and BAM! A simple pop with colorful confetti

spraying in the air.

* The party popper: This is a favorite during New Year’s

celebrations. The party popper is shaped like a champagne bottle with

a string coming out of the top. Pop the cork and presto, instant

party.

* The magnum popper: This product is shaped like a pistol. Point

it up in the air, pull the trigger and connect with that rootin’

tootin’ cowpoke of your imagination.

* The cone popper: There are two kinds of cone poppers in the

assortment. One is 3 inches long and packs the same kind of whollop

as the party popper. The 7-inch cone popper, on the other hand,

definitely generates the biggest bang in the pack. It’s surprising

how much noise it makes for a novelty item.

* Pop-its: These will take you back to grade school. So simple a

device: some exploding powder wrapped in a small bit of white paper.

Throw it on the ground and the fun begins.

* The jumbo party popper: The biggest of the bunch, but not the

most powerful. Unlike the other items, this product is spring

controlled, so there’s no big pop or smoke. Twist the bottom and a

bunch of metallic colored confetti comes flying out of the top of the

cylinder. This item might be deemed “a fireworks substitute” or maybe

“nutra-works.”