Fabulous fireworks light up Pattaya Bay during this year’s 2-day International Fireworks Festival. The entire Beach Road was shut down to traffic to allow revelers to enjoy musical entertainment, along with food stalls and a flea market.
Fireworks shows put on by four foreign nations delighted tourists and locals as the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival exploded across the sky.
Down from 10 foreign participants in previous years, this year’s festival featured a 45-minute show by teams from Canada, China, Singapore and the United States. Four Thai celebrities served as honorary team captains.
Fabulous fireworks light up Pattaya Bay during this year’s 2-day International Fireworks Festival. The entire Beach Road was shut down to traffic to allow revelers to enjoy musical entertainment, along with food stalls and a flea market.
Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai and top city government and sponsor representatives kicked off the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 event, which also featured booths selling locally made products, a carnival-style parade, shows and concerts.
The main “Brighten Your Life” fireworks show attracted throngs of residents and tourists to Beach Road, which was closed from 3:30 to 11 p.m.
Canada’s team lit the first sparklers, expressing its northern culture with relaxing colors rich with blues and large bursts with clear colors.
The Chinese showed their usual flair for tricks, rhythm and speed, with soft explosions and shells that popped more than once. Each burst appeared to have a tail that sent glittering fragments showering into Pattaya Bay.
Singapore’s fireworks were mixed and colorful, both big and small, falling together beautifully.
And the U.S.’s closing display exhibited the country’s typical bombast, with technology and speed being the prominent themes, turning night into day with bright explosions mixed with lasers, lights and music.
The festival continued into a second day with magic and juggling shows, “3D painting photography,” musical performances from Watcharawalee and Slot Machine, a parade of Pattaya schoolchildren and market-style booths.
At 9 p.m. a smaller fireworks show was orchestrated by famed pyro-technician Francis Wu. Pattaya also staged a “synchronized fireworks” show with mixed media to a Thai musical soundtrack over 45 minutes.
“After having already organized the event twice, Pattaya is trying to organize a more-complete event, hoping to boost tourism attracting tourists to Thailand,” Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome said.
