Epic Fireworks Blog

Posts Tagged ‘4th July 2012’

San Diego ‘does an Oban’.

Last November 5th was ‘a bit of a one’ for the residents of Oban in Argyle and Bute when due to a ‘technical error’ all of the fireworks intended to be fired in a twenty minute spectacular were all inadvertently let off in under a minute.

Never to be outdone, a similar incident will forever be etched on the residents of San Diego when their 18 minute display fireworks in celebration of the 4th July were all set off in under 15 seconds instead.

The display was due to start at 9.00pm and last for around 18 minutes. However, at 8.55pm the spectators heard an explosion and a series of reports to look up to the sky to see what appeared to indicate that the sky was alight but was actually all the fireworks going off at the same time instead of the carefully planned display which the organisers had spent months creating.

The technical ‘glitch’ was found to be the fault of Garden State Fireworks who were the professional fireworks crew who said that the mistake was caused by a signal to the barges that would set up the timing for all the show following a brief introduction.

Independence Day revellers were left disappointed after the all-too-brief Wednesday night display but when you are wholly dependent on technology, things can go wrong – can’t they Oban?

This year’s Pacific Independence Day celebrations will include the usual summer picnic in the park with the usual balloons, pony rides and the pre-requisite cotton candy (candy floss to you and I) and the fireworks show but, this years will also incorporate an especially patriotic programme for war veterans and their families.

Organizers will honour the Pacific area men who have fallen in combat and a family walking parade around the park circle wearing patriotic outfits which will be judged and the best representations will be awarded with prizes.

This year’s special event will be held on Sunday 1st July at the City Park on Congress Street and activities will begin at 3:00pm.

Food, in the form of fried taco’s, hot dogs, popcorn, water, lemonade and soda will be available on site.

Activities on the day will include:

• Sand art
• Face painting
• Bling-it body art
• Balloon art
• Pony rides
• Children’s wash off tattoo’s

There is no charge for the parade or the fireworks display but a small fee will be required for some of the other activities.

At 6:00pm, preceded by a professional stilt walker dressed as Uncle Sam will lead the parade and all the remaining visitors to the event will line up and create the unique walking memorial to the nation’s birthday celebrations. Everyone who is attending is being asked to wear red, white or blue in recognition of the celebration of the Independence of the USA and its fallen hero’s.

A permanent granite marker outlines the names of the fallen soldiers and military personnel from the Pacific region of the country with space to continue to add the names of those who continue to lose their lives in conflicts around the World. The Pacific Historical Museum will have an exhibit history including pictures, the branch of service, when and where they died and, in some cases, where they are buried. The museum works on its veterans archive continuously and adds information or pictures as they are acquired.

This is going to be a great event I am sure and will be widely supported. We will let you know in future updates about the fireworks display.