Epic Fireworks Blog

Posts Tagged ‘festival’

The festival enters its 12^th year of competition and continues to grow in strength.

Fireworks today form part of the celebration for Malta’s accession to the European Union but they have been heavily involved in festivities going back over many hundreds of years, often (as in most of Europe) in place of celebratory gun-fire.  The Maltese would always have fireworks on special occasions for example, the birth of a new member of royalty, the election of a new Pope (very appropriate at the moment following the election of Pope Francis) or in recognition of one of their army’s victories.

This year, the running order is as follows:

26/4/2013 – MARSAXLOKK – Competition day 1

Focs d’ Artifici Europla -  Spain

Mount Carmel Fireworks – Malta

Lieto Fireworks – Italy

28/4/2013 – GOLDEN BAY – Competition day 2

Tal-Gilju Fireworks – Malta

123 Feuerwerk – Germany

Pirotecnia Minhota -  Portugal

30/4/2013 -  VALETTA – Competition winners announcement and finale

Traditional fireworks

Announcement of the Winner of the Malta International Fireworks Festival 2013

Finale – A beautiful pyro-musical display by PyroEmotions of Italy

Whatever the reason, Malta’s fireworks festival remains one of the biggest in Europe and long may it continue.

All participants in the 2013 Mechanical Ground Fireworks festival in Floriana, Malta locally known as “Nar ta’ l-Art”, have been told that the firework flames MUST be contained to avoid any further accidents.

Ground fireworks are a unique Maltese pyrotechnic tradition, and since the festival will be held on the eve of Floriana’s Parish Feast, those who attend the festival will also get a taste of the lavish local festivities which are a hallmark of Maltese Fiestas. The Festival will be held in the largest square in Malta.

In 2009, a young man was injured when a flame from a misfired Catherine wheel hit him in the face.  However, event organisers have assured the public that every safety measure will be taken to ensure crowd safety by keeping them at a safe distance.

The new regulations state that the displays must be built in a way that ensures that flares from fireworks will not be emitted outwards.

The 2013 Festival, being held in April will feature competing teams from around the World and will last around an hour and a half.  Each team will present 2 displays in the hope of becoming Mechanical Champions.

There will also be a unique situation when 25% of the score will be allotted by representatives of the competing teams themselves and the remainder of the score will be established by the panel of experts from around the World.

I am sure that if there is sufficient distance between the action and the crowd that there will be little chance of injury being sustained again and this remains a free event which can be enjoyed by all the family.

The categories for the competition include the best use of gears/chains and least used, originality, best mechanism and best products.

A fantastic sculpture made from the Lydney Festival with the intent to burn it at the end. Seems such a shame for something so beautiful and well made. However a Fire Festival is not a festival without a fire.

This incredible looking construction was designed by a local teenager who was no doubt delighted to see it up in flames.

The 2 bikes leaning on it kind of ruins the magic slightly, but still a great pic.

Well done from everyone at Epic Fireworks