Probably the MLB dropping the hammer on the Astros.

Fighter jet breaking sound barrier

UFO dropping out of warp spread as it entered the atmosphere.
They're here.

"To that end, the same region found itself wondering about a similar sound last year and it wound up being, of all things, a 'gender reveal' party gone awry. "

This is the most likely scenario. Having grown up in an area and during a
time and location it happened a lot.
Also would explain then distances reported

But I am not ruling out the blue or pink
Tannerite by any means. If 5 lbs is good 25 or 50 ought to be about right.
Just got to make sure there isn’t any lawnmowers involved.

You know, we have a couple of generations that have never heard and felt a sonic boom. I figure it would be pretty scary to them on first encounter.

I'll go with this.

Maybe a rock quarry dynamiting .

No rock quarries around these parts.

I heard it-Probably some tweekers meth lab exploding out in the woods/marsh

I’m not near there but someone near here set off 25 lb of tannerite to celebrate Christmas Eve. That was heard a ways but the 50l lb on New Years Eve was louder! Someone said he made it himself when I questioned the cost.

Had a loud boom in my area a few weeks ago, people said they heard it from at least 5 miles away. It shook my house. Turned out to be a plumbing truck with the utility bed on it, had his propane torch fall knocking the valve off. Another bounce and something sparked and boom. Blew all the doors off the utility bed.

LOL

Maybe the meth lab in Sheryl’s she shed went up again!