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Blanes Fireworks Competition: 1 Million visitors, 7 tons of explosives, lots of fun
More articles on this topic: Blanes NewsBlanes, July 20, 2009 – VisitBlanes.com — The Costa Brava Resort city of Blanes, in Catalonia, Spain, is preparing to welcome up to 1 million visitors for this year’s version of its International Fireworks Festival.
In the 39th edition of the Concurso de Fuegos de Artificio de la Costa Brava, some 7 tons of explosives will be used over a six day period in stunning pyrotechnics displays put on by international top competitors.
While the fireworks competition was established in 1970, the history of gunpowder and fireworks displays in Blanes goes back to at least 1906.
An article published in July that year mentions a fireworks display from a platform in the sea.
Blanes’ municipal archives reveal a similar event in 1909, and another in 1931. From that year, fireworks displays became a tradition — ended in 1936 due to the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1944 the tradition was restored.
In 1970 the Costa Brava had become very popular with tourists, and the City of Blanes came up with the idea to use the fireworks festival to promote the budding resport. The event that year lasted three days — and was in later years expanded to four, five, six and even seven days.
This year’s event will be held over six days, from July 22 through July 27th. Organizers are counting on 150.000 viewers a day, and 450.000 visitors over the weekend. This includes not only tourists but also people from around Catalonia.
The fireworks will be launched from a 4000 square-meters platform, weighing four tons, anchored just of Sa Palomera — the rocky promentory that marks the official start of the Costa Brava (Wild Coast).
Ignition of the spectacular pyrotechnics displays is fully electronic, with sequences controlled by computer from a nearby control center.
The vicinity of the launching area is fenced off, and guarded by municipal police. Signs around the perimeter warn people, in 6 languages, to stay away from the area.
If you plan to arrive in Blanes by car during the competition, note that access to the center of town is restricted from several hours before each event.
• Official Blanes fireworks website
in Catalan and Spanish
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