• 12 pyrotechnic teams flame up the sky with an extra night of displays included this year
  • MGTO held the first Seminar of Designing and Producing Fireworks this year

30th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest a Grand Dual Celebration

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Themed ‘Duo Celebrations for Macao’, the first nights of the 30th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest were staged above the sea area overlooked by Macau Tower on 7th September (Malaysia, the Philippines), 13th September - Mid-Autumn Festival (Portugal, Korea), 21st September (United Kingdom, Romania) and 28th September (South Africa and Canada). On China’s National Day of 1st October France and China will light up the skies, with Japan and Australia bringing the pyrotechnic wizardry to a grand finale on 5th October.

Multiple elements have been added to the Contest this year to mark its thirtieth edition such as an increased number of fireworks displays to 12 shows over six nights and a seminar on the design and manufacturing process of fireworks added for the first time.

Enriching cultural and creative elements of Contest 

The Contest started on 7th September, with 12 competitive teams queuing up to dazzle with displays in the night sky over six evenings which include the Mid-Autumn Festival, China’s National Day and 1st October Golden Week. The first and second fireworks displays start at 9:00pm and 9:40pm, respectively, every scheduled evening, with each show choreographed to ‘Light your Fire’, the top-prize-winning song of last year’s Songwriting Contest and one of the background music scores. The Contest is broadcast live on TDM - HD TV Channel with synchronised music on TDM - Radio Macao’s Chinese Channel (FM100.7) every scheduled evening.

Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and CTM have jointly organised an online poll titled ‘My Favourite Fireworks Team’, which spectators can access at http://firework-games.cyberctm.com and on the themed webpage via the menu on MGTO’s WeChat ID ‘MGTOweixin’ to vote for their favourite fireworks team and enter the lucky draw for a chance to win attractive prizes.

MGTO has also featured the winning entry of last year’s Trophy Design Contest as the design of the ‘real-life’ trophies to be awarded to the winners of the 30th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest.

As ever, the Fireworks Carnival  is being held next to Macau Tower every fireworks evening, while a booth game themed ‘Fun Puzzles of Fireworks in the Night Sky’ and a DIY workshop featuring fireworks-themed T-shirt painting for parents and kids add crackle to the proceedings.

Sharing background stories about Contest

Moreover, MGTO organised the first Seminar of Designing and Producing Fireworks at the Macao Contemporary Art Centre - Navy Yard No.2 on 15th September, with the representative of the Contest’s pyrotechnic consultancy, Kim Moon Tong, and Chief Executive Officer of Pyromagic Multi-media Productions Limited, Wilson Mao, sharing their expertise - and enthusiasm! - with around 50 participants, explaining the process of manufacturing display fireworks shells, preparations and safety precautions for the Contest, as well as essentials for fireworks appreciation.

The Seminar offered the public an interesting glimpse into the story and actual preparations behind the scenes of the extravaganza, as well as widening its knowledge of fireworks and this perennially popular Contest.

The Seminar began with an overview of fireworks presented by Kim Moon Tong; specifically the history, range of categories and manufacturing process, as well as arrangements and guidelines for fireworks shows under severe weather conditions. Taking the Contest as an example, Kim elaborated upon the rundown and arrangements for a fireworks show, covering theme, music, originality, launch sites and safety guidelines, and more. Participants learned from different perspectives the preparation process and the efforts undertaken by the production teams to create a pyrotechnic feast for the eyes that just gets better and better.

Outreach programmes enhancing cultural benefits

Besides the established Photo Contest and Student Drawing Contest, both popular among residents, two new contest categories of video production and poster design were launched this year in tandem with the Fireworks Contest. An online application system has been put into service for convenient submission of entries for various outreach programmes to 31st October.

MGTO is also holding weekend DIY workshops for the 30th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest, scheduled at Anim’Arte NAM VAN every fireworks evening from 7th September to 5th October, with the 4th Macau International Lantern Festival being held along Anim'Arte NAM VAN and the Waterfront Promenade of One Central Macau and Wynn Macau (Avenida de Sagres) from 7th September to 5th October - enabling visitors and residents to soak up the cultural and artistic ambience of Macao while enjoying unrivalled fireworks fun!

For more information, please visit: http://fireworks.macaotourism.gov.mo.