When you think about firework displays, you usually think about the big New Year’s Eve displays and the Bonfire Night specials. Yet with the traditional fireworks season now gone, it’s time to look at some of the other amazing uses of fireworks that we see across the world.
For amazing, read unique.
Here are three of the strangest and unique firework displays you should look to experience, with two of them right here in the UK!
Beehive Fireworks Festival, Taiwan
Taiwan – a country that loves its fireworks, like several other Asian nations – has plenty of fantastic firework festivals and it isn’t any wonder. Fireworks originated in the region, which is why Asian countries go firework-mad at all times. When it comes to strange displays, the Beehive Fireworks Festival is definitely among the oddest.
You could even call the festival a dangerous one, since the fireworks are aimed at the crowds! It might sound crazy, but the festival is famous for its Yanshui ‘walls’. These walls are metallic structures with horizontal shelves full of firework rockets. During the festival, the fireworks are fired up towards the crowds that are waiting for them with helmets in their heads.
It definitely is a festival worth checking out, but if you don’t have a thirst for crazy adventures, you could just watch videos of the event from the comfort of your home!
Weston Park in the Dark, Shropshire
For something spectacular, but not as crazy as the Beehive Festival, the Weston Park in the Dark event is a great occasion to attend. The festival happens every year and you can enjoy it in October in 2015.
The highlights of the festival are the amazing flying airplanes, which are fitted with amazing pyrotechnic products and fireworks. As these planes hurdle across the night sky, you can see the sparklers leave a shiny fire trail behind. Furthermore, the whole occasion also takes advantage of music and strobe lights.
The event also hosts a more traditional firework display at the end of the night. If you are looking for something fun and exhilarating for the whole family, then Weston Park in the Dark is a great pick.
Lewes Bonfire Night Celebrations, Lewes
Okay, so we’re supposed to be moving away from traditional fireworks displays, but trust us, the only thing traditional about this one is the date it happens!
As we all know, Bonfire Night is a big night for firework displays and every town across the UK has some kind of display on or near the 5th of November – the best ones have them the weekend before and after, as well as on the day itself if it’s during the week!
For something nearly anarchic, you may wish to head down to Lewes’ Bonfire Night Celebrations, which have quite a reputation as a wild event.
The event prides itself as the biggest and the most traditional Bonfire Night event and there’s plenty to do on the big day. The whole city goes in a bit of a lockdown with road closures guaranteeing you get to enjoy fire shows and fireworks across the usually sleepy town.
The costumes, marches and friendly rivalry between competing fireworks displays adds uniqueness as well as quirkiness to this old tradition. It’s quite a fun night to experience with your friends.
If you are looking for an adventure this year, then check out one of the above events!
Cover Image Credit: Andrew Dunn under CC 2.0, via Wikipedia.
