Themed as “Duo Celebrations for Macao”, the 30th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest culminated in splendour on 5th October.
Throughout the Contest, twelve fireworks teams presented their spectacular shows with unreserved efforts to compete for prizes to bring home. The top prize went to Marutamaya Ogatsu Fireworks Co., Ltd. from Japan, followed by the fireworks teams from China (Liuyang New Year Fireworks Trading Co., Ltd.) and France (SAS BREZAC Artifices) as first and second runners-up.
Various internationally-acclaimed and experienced fireworks companies from worldwide are invited to join the Contest every year. Instead of inviting ten teams to perform on five fireworks evenings, this year, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) arranged for twelve teams to dazzle on six fireworks nights for the first time. Every fireworks company choreographed their fireworks displays to the background theme song “Light your fire” around the theme of “Duo Celebrations for Macao”, bringing their thoughtful ideas to life.
The twelve teams came from different countries as follows (in chronological order): Malaysia, Philippines, Portugal, Korea, United Kingdom, Romania, South Africa, Canada, France, China, Japan and Australia.
Blastmaster Sdn Bhd from Malaysia raised the curtain on the Contest on 7th September with their wonderful performances. The company produces over 200 fireworks shows in Malaysia annually, according to its profile. Besides the Fireworks Carnival, the 4th Macau International Lantern Festival was held along the Waterfront Promenade of One Central Macau and Wynn Macau, as well as Anim’Arte Nam Van, all of which were great places for fireworks watching this year.
Since the inaugural edition unveiled by MGTO in 1989, the Macao International Fireworks Display Contest has developed into one of Macao’s signature mega events and drawn a vast number of spectators from around the world to Macao every year. Filled with a kaleidoscope of highlights, the Fireworks Carnival was also staged every fireworks evening as an annual side activity of the Contest.
In addition, MGTO organized the first-ever fireworks seminar to open the eyes of the public to preparations behind the curtain of the fireworks event. In terms of outreach programs, besides the Photo Contest and Student Drawing Contest, two new contests of video production and poster design are launched this year. Cultural and creative elements are also added to the Fireworks Contest, by way of several concurrent workshops and booth games.