On five nights from 21st May to 17th September, the Herrenhausen Fireworks Competition 2016 promises to be one of the biggest events on the international fireworks calendar. Anyone visiting the event also has the opportunity to look around the stunning German city of Hanover, too.
The Herrenhausen Fireworks Competition has been running since 1991 and this year marks the 26th event in total. The event takes place in Herrenhausen’s stunning Great Garden, and is more than just your typical fireworks and pyromusical spectacular.
Each evening’s events take place between 6:30pm and 11:30pm, with the Garden being accessible to ticket holders from 6pm. Before the fireworks displays themselves, there is some excellent family friendly entertainment provided, in the form of live music, art shows, and even circus acts such as tightrope walking. The pre-fireworks events are also tailored to the culture of the country performing that evening, perfect for making visitors from these countries feel at home, while also providing entertainment and education to everyone in attendance.
If the entertainment isn’t for you, there is always the option of a walk around the beautiful botanic gardens or simply relaxing and enjoying a picnic.
Herrenhausen Fireworks Competiton: How it Works
The idea is simple. All the entrants have to do is create a 25-minute pyromusical display.
Easy? It might sound like it, but the entrants have to navigate a 4-minute section of music chosen specifically by the judges, meaning it isn’t as simple as just creating a display and practicing it until it’s perfect.
Previous Years Events
The Herrenhausen Fireworks Competition has proven to be hugely popular through the years. Last year’s winners, for a record fifth time, were Sweden’s Gothenburg Fyrverkeri.
As they aren’t returning to defend their crown in 2016, we’ve put the video of last year’s winning performance below for you to enjoy.
Who will be taking part this year’s Herrenhausen Fireworks Competition?
21st May
The competition kicks off on 21st May with Compagnie Pok Co from France. These guys’ backgrounds are actually in street art, lighting, and circus skills. Not what you’d necessarily think would help to create an amazing pyrotechical extravaganza, but they have a huge reputation across Europe and this promises to be one hell of a show.
Read more about this entrant here.
4th June
The second night of the display sees the home entry, this year brought to you by IP Innovative Pyrotechnik. Renowned not just in Germany but across Europe and indeed the rest of the world, IP Innovative Pyrotechnik are famous for being the brains behind spectacular fireworks displays that support the tours of legendary bands including The Rolling Stones and AC/DC.
As well as checking out their website – remember to hit the translate button! – you can read more about this entrant here.
You can watch a performance from IP Innovative Pyrotechnik at the 2015 Shanghai International Music Fireworks Festival below.
20th August
After a long wait the third night of the competition arrives, this year featuring Dance of Fire representing Ukraine. Dance of Fire are established as one of Europe’s leading fireworks display specialists, having competed at various events across the continent in the past decade.
Read more about Dance of Fire here.
3rd September
The penultimate entry in the Herrenhausen Fireworks Competition 2016 comes from Belgium’s leading fireworks company, H C Pyrotechnics. Another company that have performed across Europe, H C Pyrotechnics performed in the United Kingdom in late 2015, and have won numerous competitions in recent years. Such is the success of H C Pyrotechnics that they even have their own festival, the Knokke-Heist International Fireworks Festival.
Read more about H C Pyrotechnics here.
17th September
Canada’s Firemaster Productions – winners of the Blackpool International Fireworks Competition here in the United Kingdom in 2014 – bring down the curtain on this year’s competition.
Read more about Firemaster Productions here.
If you can get to Hanover during the summer then do all you can to check out one of these great events. Visit the Hanover tourism website for ticket information and everything else you need to know about the Herrenhausen Fireworks Competition 2016.