Meet the Artists 2026: Donnie Toms (Pro Competitor)

2026 Pro Display Competitor — Championship of Champions

Donnie Toms

From: Wellington, Missouri
With: Kansas City Area Pyrotechnicians (KCAP)

A longtime backyard fireworks enthusiast turned professional shooter, Donnie Toms returns to Sky Wars with the Kansas City Area Pyrotechnicians for the 2026 Championship of Champions. After winning the 2023 Sky Wars Pro Display competition with KCAP’s record-setting Taylor Swift-themed pyromusical, Donnie has continued building his experience on some of pyro’s biggest stages. This year, he and the KCAP Army are bringing a new show to Innsbrook.

How Donnie caught the pyro bug:

The Fourth of July has always been Donnie’s favorite holiday. Growing up in the Midwest, fireworks were a regular part of summer with his brothers. After briefly living in Arizona, where fireworks were much harder to come by, Donnie returned to Missouri in 2017 ready to make pyrotechnics a much bigger part of his life.

Donnie joined KCAP in 2020 and quickly found a community of people who shared his interest in both the technical side of fireworks and the theatrical experience of a full pyromusical. Donnie and his wife, Jessica, also put on an annual Independence Day display near Wellington and Odessa, Missouri, growing a friends-and-family show into a community event that has welcomed hundreds of people over the years.

Donnie’s path to Sky Wars:

Donnie’s first Sky Wars experience came in 2020, when he helped KCAP set up Jim Priebe’s Pro-Am show. He returned in 2021 to assist with Dan Haines’ Spirit of ’76 show and in 2022 helped his fellow KCAP members at the event.

In 2023, Donnie stepped onto the big stage as a Pro competitor with KCAP. Their 14-minute Taylor Swift-themed show earned the Sky Wars Pro championship and set a world record as the largest fireworks display shot on COBRA Firing Systems at the time. The display used 4,896 cues, nearly 5,000 individual pyrotechnic devices, three 80-foot man lifts with 360-degree wheels, and two 16-inch shells, the first of their size ever launched at the Innsbrook site.

The show’s weather-delayed Sunday launch created an unforgettable moment for the KCAP Army. What began as a massive team effort became a championship win, a world record, and a reminder of how strongly the pyro community supports one another.

Life since the 2023 Championship:

Since winning Sky Wars, Donnie has continued to work on large-scale productions and learn from other respected people in the industry. His recent experience includes the 2024 PGI National Anthem and the 2025 Cobra-Con Closing Show with David Anglin.

In 2026, Donnie helped fire the Million Dollar Fireworks Festival Show with Jake’s Fireworks. That production set a record with 9,787 cues, adding another major milestone to a growing list of large-scale shows Donnie has helped bring to life.

Beyond the field, Donnie co-hosts the Pyro Unleashed Podcast, where he stays connected to the fireworks community and shares the passion, people, and stories that make pyro more than just a hobby.

What to expect from Donnie’s 2026 Sky Wars display:

For the 2026 Championship of Champions, Donnie and KCAP are returning with “Icons,” a show built for the Sky Wars audience. Expect big energy, tight choreography, and the kind of ambitious production value that has become a KCAP trademark.

Donnie knows that a Championship of Champions show calls for something memorable. With the KCAP Army behind him, he is ready to bring a fresh concept to the field while honoring the people, music, and moments that have made an impact along the way.

A word of thanks:

Donnie would like to thank his wife, Jessica Toms, for her continued support; the KCAP Army; Astro Magic FX; Fireworks Forever; and Wisely Pyrotechnics for their major roles in bringing “Icons” to life.

A special thank-you goes to his show team: Travis Kramer, Jacob Summers, Justin Fletcher, Zach Huibregtse, Dan Haines, and David Anglin, who put many hours into bringing this show to life. Donnie also extends special thanks to Kevin Dix, Jason Huibregtse, and Joe Fontana for the engineering efforts that made this show possible.

He is also grateful to David Anglin and the larger pyro community for the opportunities, friendships, and lessons that continue to shape his journey.

Donnie Toms and KCAP present “Icons” at the 2026 Sky Wars Championship of Champions.