Globalfest - Calgary Fireworks 2014

This event has been a familiar feature of the entertainment calendar for Calgary since 2003 and as it enters its 12th year of fireworks and fun, (you can read all about last years here) this year promises to be even bigger and better than last year.

Each of the countries represented at Calgary Globalfest brings colour, music and light together to showcase the sheer beauty and elegance of their homeland. Last year’s ‘Best of 2013’ winners France will be back this year to try their luck and a consecutive win may be on the cards.

The festival is not just about fireworks as it is a cultural bringing together of a massive number of nationalities to enable all of the visitors the opportunity to learn a little more about themselves and one another.

There are over 20 cultural pavilions which aim to include visitors and let them have a special insight into lifestyles as diverse as mouth-watering food and brilliantly colourful costumes from India including how to correctly drape a beautiful ‘saree’ or you can also enjoy a relaxing massage in the Thailand pavilion or learn the intricacies of Persian calligraphy writing from the natives of Iran.

‘Foodies’ will thoroughly enjoy the diversity of the food concessions including the rich and vibrant food of the Caribbean or the spicy subtlety of the variety of food from Indonesia or Vietnam. There is literally something for every taste and palate.

There is also a night market every evening to enable you to pick up a cultural piece of jewellery or an authentic piece of art from China or Thailand. Or perhaps you are looking for that ‘one-off’ keepsake for a family member? There will also be a number of clothing outlets, candles and scented products, limited edition one off mobile phone accessories for you to peruse.

Of course, in our opinion, the best thing about this event has to be the majestic fireworks displays. The fireworks competition, sponsored by Trico Homes, is an international event where a different country is represented on each of the five nights with the finale on the fifth night being performed by Sirius Pyrotechnics who are representing Calgary.

The firing order is as follows:

• Japan – Thursday 14th August 2014 – Akariya Fireworks
• Thailand – Saturday 16th August 2014 – Thailand Fireworks
• Vietnam – Tuesday 19th August 2014 – Team DaNang VietNam
• France – Thursday 21st August 2014 – Sarl FC Pyro
• Finale – Saturday 23rd August 2014 – Sirius Pyrotechnics (representing the home team)

The judge’s decisions will be based on the following areas:

• Quality
• Scope of the work
• Brilliance and colours of the pieces used
• Musical choreography
• Originality of the artistic impressions
• Musical choices
• 25% of the music is native to the representative country

It is a hard-fought competition but with the added advantage of the firing site being at the water's edge with all the pyro being reflected in the moonlit waters it is a truly gorgeous place in its own right but with the fireworks as well, pure magic.

If you should get the opportunity to visit, we would simply love to see any footage you may have shot whilst you are there both of the fireworks and the event as a whole.