Knokke Heist Fireworks Festival 2016

WHAT: KNOKKE HEIST 2016
WHY: INTERNATIONAL FIREWORK COMPETITION
WHEN: 17TH – 25TH AUGUST 2016
WHERE: DUINBERGEN BEACH, KNOKKE HEIST, BELGIUM
COST: FREE

The event originally was conceived out of a necessity to bring in more visitors to the local area in the hope that if they enjoyed it enough, they would come back year on year.

Originally held at Zege Lake for entertainment sake rather than in the competition format it is today. As the event grew, the need for a bigger site (following on from a near disaster when the old ‘fire all’ technical issue raised its head) was apparent and it needed to be somewhere what was safe for the technicians and the spectators.

Today Knokke Heist is held on the beach and is one of the oldest firework festivals in Europe.

COMPETING TEAMS

Wednesday 17th August - Lieto Fireworks - Italy

Established in 1945 by Antonio Lieto the business remains in the hands of his son Ugo Lieto and grandson of the same name; Antonio Lieto. They have shows their considerable skills across Europe and have won in Austria and Malta in previous competitions.

Friday 19th August - Platinum Fireworks - Philippines

Established 2002, this team are at the very top of their game and recently competed at the Calgary Fireworks Festival and walked away with the Peoples Choice, Kids Choice and Best Of awards – what a hat-trick.

This team are third time competitors having watched the display, the accolades are indeed well deserved as it was a beautifully crisp, clean and symmetrical display.

Sunday 21st August - Mirnovec Pirotehnika - Croatia

Established in 1993 they came into fireworks, pyro musical displays etc by way of movie special effects and stage pyrotechnics. They have been privileged to work alongside The Stones, Bowie and Metallica and picked up 2nd place in Montreal 2013 and won TV Choice and the Peoples choice awards at Ignis Brunensis in the Czech Republic in 2014.

Tuesday 23rd August - Pyrotex Fireworx - England

25 years of display experience and the best technology money can buy, have put this team at the very top of their game. They have wins under their belt this year from the Philippines and Italy – lets hope their winning streak will continue.

Thursday 25th August - H C Pyrotechnics - Belgium

Non competing team will show their display and the winners will be announced followed by the prize giving ceremony.

The teams will be judged on synchronization, use of colour and colour combinations, composition, harmony and originality and the team of experts is made up of local celebrities, sponsors, artists and professional firework technicians.

The UK have won this in previous events in 2000 when appropriately named Pyro 2000 won and then in 2014, the team from Jubilee Fireworks lifted the silverware.

A fantastic competition – GOOD LUCK TO ALL COMPETITORS