For a few magical evenings a year, the skies over Southern France light up for the annual Festival of Pyrotechnic Art. Bursting into life in July, you won’t want to miss out on the Cannes Fireworks Festival if you’re a fan of fireworks, as this annual spectacle promises a night like never before.
Taking place every year since 1998, the Cannes Fireworks Festival illuminates the French Riviera with a canvas of breathtaking rockets, as some of the world’s most skilled pyrotechnicians head to the Côte d’Azur to show off their talent for creating majestic displays.
Set in the middle of a glorious 400 metre bay between Iles de Lérins and the Pointe de l’Estérel, this one-of-a-kind competition sees multi-coloured flames dance to marvellous musical soundscapes. This year, the contestants will have 10 small pontoons and 3 big barges at their disposal, which should hopefully produce the most mesmerising exhibitions the competition has ever seen.
Attracting more than 200,000 spectators every year, the festival sees candidates from six different counties compete for the coveted Silver Vestal, which awards points for categories such as theme originality, presentation, synchronisation, colours and coordination. The winning firms return to Cannes every four years to compete for the ultimate prestige: the Gold Vestal. Other honours up for grabs include the Jury’s Prize and a Public Prize where spectators vote for their favourite display.
If you’re hopping on a P&O Ferry from Dover to Calais for a driving holiday as the weather warms up, don’t forget to visit the Cannes Firework Festival to experience this truly unique event.
Creative Commons images courtesy of liquid-photos on flickr.
