No Ravens, no Orioles. Why were there fireworks at M&T Bank Stadium?

A quiet Thursday evening was interrupted with a bang, boom and blast in South Baltimore when a fireworks display illuminated the night sky at M&T Bank Stadium.

With neither Ravens nor Orioles games, some neighbors in Federal Hill were startled by the show, because they had no idea it was going to happen. While some people on social media said the display was beautiful, others said they would have appreciated more of a heads up.

“I had just put my son down, and I’m like, ‘What in the world is that?’” Caitlin Regan, who has lived in the neighborhood for 20 years, said. “I looked at my watch and I thought, it’s not New Year’s Eve; it’s an October beautiful evening. So, I wasn’t sure what we were celebrating.”

Image Engineering, the Baltimore-based company behind the stadium’s fireworks displays, confirmed to WJZ the fireworks were part of its 30th anniversary celebration. The company said it was a private event for employees, clients, partners, family and friends.

“Baltimore has been at the heart of who we are at Image Engineering. Our work takes us around the world, but our roots remain here, in the city where we started, and the place we call home,” Image Engineering said in a statement. “We were proud to celebrate this milestone with those who have been part of our journey over the past 30 years.”

The company said the Baltimore City Fire Department supervised the show, in accordance with regulations.

“As a company specializing in special effects and pyrotechnics, it was only fitting that we concluded the evening with a laser and fireworks display inside the stadium,” the statement said.

Image Engineering designs fireworks displays for several NFL teams, as well as concerts and other live events. The company is headquartered in Curtis Bay.

Comments accompanying various social media videos show people debating the possible reasons for the fireworks, with some guessing it was a rehearsal for an upcoming concert, and others joking it was in celebration of the Yankees being eliminated from the MLB playoffs.

Neighbors in Federal Hill said they had no idea the show was going to happen Thursday night.

“It was like the Fourth of July,” Lisa Maslar, who recently moved to Federal Hill, said. “I love fireworks, so of course I ran out like a little kid, because I wanted to see what it was. I was very excited.”

“At first, I assumed … people just setting something off, but then it continued for a really long time,” Sara Stiles, who has lived in the area for 12 years, added.

Eric Eller was driving to work at the Horseshoe Casino when he saw the display from the highway. As he got closer, he realized this was a full show, so he grabbed his phone to film it once he parked.

“At first, I thought it’s probably just like one or two random fireworks. It’s nothing crazy. But then it kept going. I was like, ‘Wow, this is like a whole show,’” Eller said. “I thought it was a little bit strange that something that would cause such a commotion would happen randomly without warning.”

Some neighbors said they wished they had prior warning to prepare their families and pets.

“If you’re going to have a display like that, you might as well let people know so they can prepare. They can go see it if they want. That would have been cool,” Stiles said.

Pet owners said they would’ve preferred a heads up to make sure their dogs were ready. Stiles said her dog, Bo, hid under the coffee table during the fireworks. Maslar said her dog, Otto, went into a closet. On holidays, like the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve, they take extra precautions.

“Usually, we make sure we’re inside, and then a lot of times she goes in her crate and she sleeps in there, or she might get one of her relax treats,” Stiles said.

Maslar works as a trauma therapist and said the stadium should provide a warning to neighbors about this type of event in the future, especially so combat veterans can be ready.

“The Fourth of July, that’s something we work a lot to prepare them for that. But when it’s something like this out of the blue, I’m imagining I’m going to have some calls about that, because it is hard when you don’t know when it’s coming,” Maslar explained.

Many neighbors said they stood in awe, trying to catch a glimpse from their front stoops. Next time, they hope they’ll know in advance about such a show.

“It was a really great show. It just kept coming. It was better than New Year’s Eve or Fourth of July, so it’s pretty cool,” Regan said. “Living in the city, you just have different surprises every day, and I guess that was a positive one. In my 20 years here, I’ve never seen that.”

WJZ is a media partner of The Baltimore Banner