MONTREAL FIREWORKS FESTIVAL 2016

WHAT: MONTREAL FIREWORKS FESTIVAL 2016
WHY: INTERNATIONAL FIREWORK COMPETITION
WHEN: SATURDAY 2ND JULY 2016 – SATURDAY 30TH JULY 2016
WHERE: LA RONDE - ÎLE SAINTE-HÉLÈNE AT PARC JEAN-DRAPEAU, MONTREAL, CANADA
COST: $50 - $65

The annual Montreal Fireworks festival is the largest pyrotechnic competition of its kind in the World. Established in 1985, the pyro-stage has witnessed some of the finest exponents of pyrotechnic art filling the skies over the stunning St Lawrence River doing their stuff. Referred to locally in this predominantly French-speaking region as L’International des Feux Loto-Quebec, it has entertained crowds of up to 3 million for more than 30 years now and it continues to grow in popularity year on year.

Over in Canada, the regulations are quite tight and as such they are only permitted ground fireworks like roman candles, sparklers, fountains, wheels, volcanoes, mines and snakes and the cakes/barrages we are used to being able to use are only available to professional firers.

The 2015 event was won by the brilliant pro team from GB’s Jubilee Fireworks who lifted the Gold Jupiter award. Their show was choreographed beautifully to the music and they used a huge array of colours and effects. Not too shabby for their first time at the event!!! It took the team 3 days to set up the 30 minute display in which more than 6000 firework items were used connected by over 5000 electrical circuits.

This is the 32nd edition of the competition featuring eight of the World’s best pyro-technicians all ready to perform their showcase displays for the gathered crowds.

The teams, Country they represent and the ‘theme’ of their displays are as follows:

2nd July 2016 - Quebec - Feux d'artifice Apogeé - Our Heroes - Out Of Competition

6th July 2016 - Chile - Pirotecnia Spa - A Musical Ride

9th July 2016 - Canada - Big Bang Fireworks - The Wild West

16th July 2016 - Switzerland - Sugyp - E-Motions

20th July 2016 - USA - Western Enterprises Inc - Dance to the colours of Light

23rd July 2016 - Spain - Ricardo Caballer Ricasa - Cinemagia

27th July 2016 - Sweden - Goteborgs Fyrverkeri Fabrik - The Joy of Life

30th July 2016 - La Ronde - Melrose Pyrotechnics - Tribute to Elton John

There will also be a display called ‘Our Heroes’ on Saturday 2nd July to start off proceedings. The musicians from the Royal 22nd regiment of the Canadian armed forces will play all the greats from the world of superheroes. The pyro-musical display will take the crowd on a journey with characters from Batman, Superman and Star Wars to name just a few.

The competition gets under way on 6th July 2016 when the first team representing Chile take to the world stage. Events will be taking place every Saturday and Wednesdays throughout July.

The final event will be an exhibition show on Saturday 30th July by Melrose Pyrotechnics and the theme, A Tribute to Elton John.

La Ronde of course is a theme park and as such will have lots to see and do before the event gets under way.

The winner of the competition will be announced on 31st July 2016 and we will be sure to let you have a report on the displays and the final results shortly thereafter.