Fireworks teams from the Philippines, Korea open contest

Two fireworks teams from the Philippines and Korea opened the 29th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest on Saturday, with performances under the theme “Magical Colors in Harmony.”

The event will continue at the skyline in front of the Macau Tower on September 8 (Japan and Belgium), September 15 (France and Portugal), September 24 (Germany and Austria) and October 1 (Italy and China). The first and second fireworks displays start at 9 p.m. and 9:40 p.m. respectively every scheduled evening, each lasting around 18 minutes.

All five fireworks evenings are choreographed to bring out special themes, such as “Magical Colors in Harmony,” “A Mystified Fireworks Dream,” “Shining Voices of Heaven,” “A Sparkling Mid- Autumn Night” and “National Day Fireworks Celebration.” In addition, every fireworks display is synchronized to both music and laser lights.

According to a statement issued by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), all 10 contestant teams have experience in crafting mega multimedia fireworks shows. “Some of their portfolios include fireworks displays tailored for major national celebrations in different countries and a range of accolades garnered from international fireworks contests across the world,” the MGTO stated.

One such example is on the next evening, where fireworks will be presented from Japan’s Marutamaya Ogatsu Fireworks, the first winner of the local contest in 1993 and again in 2016. HC Pyrotechnics comes from Belgium and has won the championships in fireworks competitions in France, Croatia, Poland, Germany and Monaco successively since 2015.

As in the past, the Office and the General Union of Neighbors Association of Macau are jointly presenting the Fireworks Carnival next to the Macau Tower this year. According to the MGTO, “the Carnival is a confluence of delicacies, performances and games to enrich the event.”

Lantern festival returns

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is partnering with local enterprises this year to roll out the 3rd Macau International Lantern Festival, which is displaying a collection of art pieces along the Waterfront Promenade of One Central Macau and Wynn Macau. The art pieces include 10 monumental and illuminated lantern sculptures of contemporary art themed “Love is in the Air,” and an interactive art installation featuring fluttering butterflies and beautiful flowers under the theme “Wynn Butterfly Story.” There is also a mid-autumn installation of lanterns with rotating scenes, projection lights with interesting patterns and illuminated styling chairs brightening the Anim’Arte Nam Van under the theme “Tour & Play The Lantern.”