The French Riviera is a region of luxury and beauty. It’s a region famous for fast cars and big Hollywood stars – but it’s also home to a wonderful fireworks Festival. What should you know about the Monte Carlo International Fireworks Festival?
What is the festival about?
The festival takes place on two nights in July and two nights in August. It involves four different fireworks groups that have to perform a show combining music and fireworks. Each display is expected to last around 20 minutes. The festival has been running since 1966 when it was first held by the Monaco Town Hall. The event has become one of the top European fireworks competitions, especially when it comes to displays using both fireworks and melodies.
Each performance is analysed and rated by a special Jury. The Jury is a combination of the members of the Municipal Council of Monaco, as well as representatives from the art world and the local civil society. The Jury will decide the winner, although the public will also get to vote on their favourite online.
Monte Carlo International Fireworks Festival 2018
You can expect plenty of stunning performances this year too. The displays will take on the following dates, with these four international teams performing:
- July 21st – Martarello SRL from Italy performing “Magic of Rock”.
- July 28th – Valecea PIR SL from Spain.
- August 4th – Macedos Pirotecnia from Portugal performing “Portuguese Odyssey”.
- August 11th – Enigma Firework LTD from Bulgaria.
If you check out the official website for the Monte Carlo International Fireworks Festival, you can find a list of songs each team will include in their performance. There are plenty of big hits from the likes of Queen and Bonnie Tyler, as well as traditional, national songs of the performing nations.
The fireworks displays in July will begin at 10 pm, while the August performances will start earlier at 9.30 pm.
Getting involved with the show
The competition takes place in Port Hercule area, with the sound system set up so that you can hear the songs well enough no matter where you’re viewing the show. The crowds generally tend to enjoy the show either from Avenue d4Ostende or Quai Albert Pier. You won’t need a ticket but you want to make your way to the pier early enough to ensure you get a good spot.
Monaco can be a fantastic destination for a summer holiday. It’s close to many other fantastic spots in the French Riviera so you could consider popping in for a day to catch one of the displays. To find out more about the festival and where to stay, you should visit the Visit Monaco website.
If you can’t make it to Monaco to enjoy the Monte Carlo International Fireworks Festival, you can always bring French Riviera to your garden. Cook up some fantastic canapés, get yourself our best fireworks and create a playlist to go with your display! You’ll end up with a magical summer night.
