Spark Your Imagination All Summer Long

Vivid, spectacular and ephemeral, fireworks have painted the black night sky since their accidental discovery in a Chinese kitchen approximately two thousand years ago.

The art of pyrotechnics has come a long way from mixing charcoal, sulphur and saltpeter and packing it into an empty bamboo tube, but the science of simple combustion is still the same. Even as their original intent – to scare away evil spirits – has passed into legend, fireworks continue to be used in all manner of celebrations

Though there is no shortage of festivals the world over that incorporate the use of fireworks (including this summer's Olympic opening and closing ceremonies in Beijing), competitions are a rare and special treat.

Using the darkness as a canvas for astounding compositions of shapes, light and color, teams from Australia, Japan, Canada, Italy and elsewhere choreograph the most creative light shows you can imagine. Their reward: bragging rights and a big trophy. Your reward, if you happen to catch a show: the indelible memory of a fleeting form of artistry.

Spin the globe, pick a destination, and ignite your next excursion with the promise of fireworks. 

Not only home to the magic of the silver screen and its attendant festival, Cannes provides a sultry, chic backdrop for a splashy competition that builds for weeks through July and August. At the Festival d'Art Pyrotechnique, teams present their 25-minute spectacles over the waters of the bay, which adds unique dimension and resonant sound to the carefully designed shows synchronized to music. 

As noted by Shakespeare, fireworks have long been revered throughout Great Britain. Even the royal family holds fireworks in high regard, a tradition that began when Queen Elizabeth I created a special position for the "Fire Master." Today, the culmination of a month-long competition for the crown of crackling dazzle is a free event in Plymouth, England. The British Fireworks Competition figures to draw thousands to line the Hoe and watch as six finalists produce 10 minute displays over two nights in mid-August.

Musical synchronicity is also a key element at GlobalFest in Calgary, Alberta, where the breathtaking show is set to rhythm. Launched from Elliston Park, the dazzling displays are reflected in the waters of Elliston Lake. Come early, bring a chair or blanket, and settle into the verdant surroundings as late August twilight falls. Vendors sell food and beverages, and the Big Rock Beer Garden is there for those who wish to imbibe a cold brew.

The inaugural Malayasian International Fireworks Competition in Kuala Lumpur's Putrajaya International Convention Center was scheduled to celebrate the country's 50th year of becoming a nation. This year the birthday celebration is no less lavish, feting music and culture and set to a colorful tableau of fireworks. Teams compete for two weeks for the coveted Medeka trophy, creating singular spectacles set to music.

One theory in fireworks' colorful history is that the Italians were the first to use gunpowder procured from the journeys of Marco Polo. So it is only fitting that one of the highlights of international competition takes place in the countryside outside Rome. The Caput Lucis is a five-night feast for the eyes – 200 meters over the seven hills of Valmontone, near the Eternal City.

The Germans are rumored to have emerged as fireworks masters alongside the Italians. Today, two competitions prove that the enthusiasm has not flagged. The Baroque Grosser Garden, with its stately trees and sculpture collection, plays host to the Hanover International Fireworks Competition held on five dates between May and September. Teams set their fireworks to classical compositions and are judged based on originality and synchronization. Berlin also hosts dueling displays at Pyronale, their World Championship of Fireworks which is held at Maifeld next to the Olympic stadium.

Don't worry if you missed the Fourth of July. American independence isn't the only reason to see showers of sparks. Boomsday happens in late August in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee when a free 20-minute show draws crowds in excess of 300,000 to see fireworks blast off the Henley Street Bridge and light the waters of the Tennessee River with blazes of color.

Edinburgh sets the last day of August on fire during its fabled International Festival. Though the festival showcases global music, dance and theater at venues around the city, fireworks are a featured and favorite event. The Princes Street Garden is the place for gathering bouquets of chrysanthemums, palms and pistils not of the botanical variety. Sponsored by the Bank of Scotland, over one million fireworks will be ignited over 45 minutes and accompanied by the music of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Finally, Montreal is the motherlode of fiery competition. L'International des Feux Loto-Quebec takes place throughout the summer, offering multiple occasions to take in the sights and sounds from the grandstand in the amusement park or simply from the Jacques Cartier Bridge.