Welsh Pyrotechnic Wizards Take Blackpool’s World Fireworks Title

Wales have been crowned champions of Blackpool’s annual World Fireworks competition after a spectacular display that dazzled tens of thousands of spectators.

The team from Celtic Fireworks put on their display over the seafront in the second of the heats on October 15 and outscored rival displays by Finland and Barbados.

The result was announced at the grand finale to Blackpool’s fireworks season on Friday 28 October when Titanium put on a showcase event.

The judging panel praised the outstanding quality of the synchronised display by Wales, which opened with music from the nation’s best-loved singing star, Sir Tom Jones, and continued with an upbeat medley of pop songs which gave a nod to Welsh heritage and other home-grown stars.

The panel said they were particularly impressed with the innovation from the Welsh team with a display that included love hearts in the sky and ended with what they described as “a stunning finale”.

It was the first time that Wales had participated in the competition. Founded in in 2004, Celtic Fireworks has become one of the largest importers of fireworks in the UK and has experience of working all across the globe on events including the Olympic Games, Saudi National Day and Bastille celebrations.

The World Fireworks Championship Blackpool is one of the resort’s most spectacular events, with the fireworks being launched from the beach in front of The Blackpool Tower.

It is estimated that more than 50,000 people attended each of this year’s free fireworks events.

Jeff MacNamara, Resorts Director of Coral Island, the competition sponsors, and one of the firework competition judges, said: “We were delighted to have been able to sponsor one of the most exciting events for the 2022 season.

“The teams from Barbados and Finland both put on fantastic displays and although the judging was extremely tight, we have ended up with an outstanding winner.

“As one of Blackpool’s largest family venues Coral Island are proud to support the local community to ensure fantastic events like the World Fireworks Championship Blackpool can take place.”

A VisitBlackpool spokesperson added: “We would like to thank Celtic Fireworks, Caribe Fire FX from Barbados, Fire Factory from Finland, and the UK’s own Titanium Fireworks, for four magical displays. We can’t wait to do it all over again next year!”

The four firework displays form an integral part of Blackpool’s major events programme. The autumn/winter season includes:

Blackpool Illuminations

The annual Blackpool Illuminations have once again been extended by two months running nightly from September 2, 2022 to January 2, 2023. This year’s display includes a reimagining of the stretch of lights on the famous Golden Mile by TV star and designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Lightpool Festival

The award-winning Lightpool Festival, sponsored by Fox Brothers Group, is an amazing free-to-see programme of light installations, 3D projection shows, art trails, and stunning live performance. The festival ends on Saturday 29 October, although the newly-installed Odyssey – the biggest installation ever created by the Illuminations team – will remain in place throughout the extended Illuminations season.

Halloween

There is a magical programme of fun for all ages lined up over the Halloween weekend (October 29-31). We’ve got ghost trains, ghost walks, ghost trams, and a Haunted Hotel tableau in the Blackpool Illuminations - in fact, more ghosts than you can shake a stick of rock at. Watch out for a stack of electrifying events at various attractions, including SEA LIFE, The Blackpool Dungeon, the Peter Rabbit Explore & Play attraction, and Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Take a look at the full line-up at:

www.visitblackpool.com/halloween

Christmas By The Sea

Our magical Christmas village is back for 2022 with free skating, snowfalls, magic forest, outdoor lightshows and festive market and the return of the Star Flyer, one of Europe’s highest swing rides. It runs from November 18 until January 2 on the Tower Festival Headland. Christmas By The Sea is returning this winter – thanks to the resort’s tourism businesses and national broadband providers, TalkTalk. Further information here: www.visitblackpool.com/christmas